At Nutrithor, we believe in strength, discipline, and pushing beyond your limits. But every once in a while, someone comes along who doesn’t just believe in those values, he embodies them.
One of those people is our co-owner and co-founder: Ivan Okunev, crowned Belgian Champion Classic Physique -18 at just 18 years old.

This is his journey.

A Passion Ignited at 15

Ivan stepped into the gym for the first time at age 15.
What began as simple curiosity quickly became a lifestyle. No skipped days, no excuses, only progress.

While most teenagers are still figuring out who they are, Ivan already knew what he wanted: to grow stronger, to improve, to build the best version of himself.

That discipline became the foundation for everything that followed.

The Turning Point: Coaching Under Stefan

In March 2025, Ivan made a pivotal decision: he began working with coach Stefan Mertens.
From that moment on, everything accelerated.

Stefan saw a potential in Ivan that even Ivan himself hadn’t fully realized. He created a plan that was as intense as it was ambitious. And the results came fast.

Ivan’s physique transformed at a pace that is rare even in the bodybuilding world. He had always trained hard, but with professional guidance, he reached a competition-ready level in record time.

Training Ethic: Failure Is Not an Option

Anyone who knows Ivan understands that his training sessions are anything but ordinary.
Every set is pushed to the absolute limit. Every rep matters.
Failure does not exist.

This mindset, combined with precision coaching, made the difference.
But training was only half of the battle, the other half was nutrition.

The Hardest Month: Eating… or Barely Eating

The final weeks before a competition are mentally brutal, and Ivan experienced that firsthand.
Strict meals, minimal calories, constant hunger, but he never complaint.

Where others would let the pressure break them, Ivan kept going.

This phase didn’t just sculpt his physique; it built unshakeable mental strength. That’s what separates ordinary athletes from champions.

The First Test: Flanders Cup

Two weeks before the Belgian Championship, Ivan decided to compete in the Flanders Cup, his very first competition!
No expectations.
No experience.
Just ambition.

And what happened?

He won 1st place in the -23 bodybuilding category and took home 4 trophies.
At just 18 years old.
Against older, more experienced athletes.

It was the first sign that his hard work was about to pay off.

The Ultimate Victory: Belgian Champion Classic Physique -18

Two weeks later, the big day arrived: the Belgian Championship.
Higher pressure, stronger competition, bigger expectations.

But Ivan did what he always does: perform.

With an impressive shape, razor-sharp conditioning, and a presence that commanded attention, he became the Belgian Champion Classic Physique -18 at just 18 years old.

A milestone.
A statement.
And most importantly: only the beginning

The story of an 18 year old champion

What This Means for Nutrithor

Ivan is more than just a co-founder of Nutrithor, he is living proof of what discipline, passion, and smart supplementation can achieve.

His journey perfectly reflects what our brand stands for:
strength, quality, and godlike dedication