Vlad Suhoruchko — known to fans as “The Impaler” — is a Ukrainian IFBB Pro bodybuilder in the Men’s Open division. 💪
His career has had real highs and hard setbacks: a missed Olympia through visa trouble, a breakthrough pro win in Italy, and a strong comeback season in 2024.
Here is his story so far, updated through his return to the stage in 2026.
Vlad Suhoruchko Quick Facts
| Full name | Vladyslav Sukhoruchko (also spelled Suhoruchko) |
| Known as | Vlad Suhoruchko, “The Impaler” |
| Born | 1997, Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Nationality | Ukrainian |
| Division | Men’s Open Bodybuilding |
| Height | 5 feet 10 inches |
| Contest weight | Around 124 kg (about 273 lbs) in contest shape |
| Turned pro | 2019, Dennis James Classic Germany |
| Pro wins | 1 — 2022 Yamamoto Pro, Italy |
| Mr. Olympia | Qualified 2021 (did not attend); competed 2022, outside the top 15 |
| Latest result | 10th, 2026 FLEX Weekend Italy Pro |
Note on spelling: official results usually print his name as “Sukhoruchko”, while this site uses “Suhoruchko”. They are the same man.
Early Life: From Football to Bodybuilding ⚽
Suhoruchko was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 1997. As a boy, football was his first love, and he played from around age 10 to 16.
He first started lifting weights to get stronger for football. Soon, though, the changes in his own physique caught everyone’s eye — including his own.
After watching a regional bodybuilding contest, he made a bold switch. He left football behind and put everything into building a stage-ready physique.
At 19, still without a coach, he took 5th place in a junior category. His family and friends thought he was wasting his time, but he refused to quit. 🏋️
Turning Pro in 2019 🏆
The turning point came at the 2019 Dennis James Classic in Germany, where Suhoruchko won the overall title and earned his IFBB Pro card.
That win was an amateur qualifier victory — the step that made him a professional — rather than a win on the pro circuit itself. His first pro victory would still be three years away.
Like many young pros, he then had to learn how to stand out in much deeper line-ups, against men with far more stage experience.
Pro Debut and the 2020 Breakthrough
Suhoruchko made his pro debut at the 2020 Europa Pro in Alicante, Spain, finishing 10th. It was a solid first step, not a headline result.
His breakthrough came later that year at the Romania Muscle Fest Pro. There he finished 2nd in the Men’s Open, behind winner Regan Grimes — a result that announced him as a serious Open talent.
The Olympia That Got Away in 2021 ✈️
In 2021, Suhoruchko kept stacking strong finishes. He placed 4th at the Portugal Pro and 4th at the Europa Pro in Spain.
Those placings earned him enough points to qualify for the 2021 Mr. Olympia. Then travel problems stopped him cold.
He announced on Instagram that visa issues would keep him out of the Orlando event, saying: “I am Out from MR Olympia 2021 because of problem with visa … next year I will be there for sure and with better version of my self.”
It was a cruel twist for a 24-year-old on the rise. Qualification alone had proved he belonged near the top — but he never got to test himself on that stage.
First Pro Win and the 2022 Olympia 🇮🇹
Suhoruchko opened 2022 with 5th place at the Mr. Big Evolution Pro in Portugal. Then came the win that changed his career.
On September 10, 2022, in Padua, Italy, he won the Yamamoto Pro Men’s Open title, beating Mohamed El Eman and Andrea Muzi. It was his first professional victory.
The win also booked his ticket to the 2022 Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas, held December 16–18. He finally stepped onto the Olympia stage — the moment the visa trouble had denied him a year earlier.
He finished outside the top 15 there, on a stage shared with fellow competitors including James Hollingshead. The official published scorecards list only the top 15, so no exact placing is claimed here. Still, reaching the Olympia at all, after the 2021 heartbreak, was a milestone. 🌟
2023: A Quieter Year, Then a Big 2024 Comeback 🔥
In 2023, Suhoruchko returned to Portugal for the Mr. Big Evolution Pro and finished 6th, behind winner Andrea Presti. It was a respectable result, but not the step forward fans hoped for.
Then 2024 delivered his best season since the Yamamoto win. At the Chicago Pro on July 19–20, he finished 2nd, pushing winner Mohamed Foda all the way in a 17-man Open field.
Two weeks later, at the Tampa Pro on August 2–3, he took 4th in an even deeper line-up, behind winner Jon Delarosa, Foda, and Jordan Hutchinson.
Those two results mattered. They showed he could still mix it with the division’s in-form names — not just in Europe, but on big American stages too. 🇺🇸
A note on listings: official results for 2024 and 2026 list him under the United Arab Emirates, reflecting where he was based or registered for those shows. He remains Ukrainian by birth, and this article does not claim a change of nationality.
2025 Break, 2026 Return — and a Firm Denial 🛡️
No verified pro contest result for Suhoruchko was found for 2025. A July 2026 report described him as returning after “taking a rest from competing”, which fits that quiet year.
He came back at the 2026 FLEX Weekend Italy Pro in Milan on June 28, 2026, finishing 10th. Edward Kargbo won the show, ahead of William Bonac and Hutchinson.
Days later, online rumours about his shoulders drew a direct response from him. In an Instagram Stories post on July 2, 2026, he denied synthol accusations and credited his wide, round shoulders to his genetics.
This article reports only his denial, as covered by Fitness Volt. It does not repeat the rumours as fact, and it makes no medical claim either way. Fans will judge his next package on stage, where it counts. 👀
His journey also echoes other Open pros who had to wait for their Olympia moment — including Nathan De Asha, a fellow Europa Pro winner from the same era.
Vlad Suhoruchko Contest History
| Year | Contest | Division | Place |
| 2026 | FLEX Weekend Italy Pro, Milan | Men’s Open | 10th |
| 2024 | Tampa Pro | Men’s Open | 4th |
| 2024 | Chicago Pro | Men’s Open | 2nd |
| 2023 | Mr. Big Evolution Pro, Portugal | Men’s Open | 6th |
| 2022 | Mr. Olympia, Las Vegas | Men’s Open | Competed — outside top 15 (exact placing not published in top-15 scorecards) |
| 2022 | Yamamoto Pro, Padua | Men’s Open | 1st 🏆 |
| 2022 | Mr. Big Evolution Pro, Portugal | Men’s Open | 5th |
| 2021 | Europa Pro, Spain | Men’s Open | 4th |
| 2021 | Portugal Pro (Mr. Big Evolution) | Men’s Open | 4th |
| 2021 | Mr. Olympia | Men’s Open | Qualified — did not attend (visa issues) |
| 2020 | Romania Muscle Fest Pro | Men’s Open | 2nd |
| 2020 | Europa Pro, Alicante (pro debut) | Men’s Open | 10th |
| 2019 | Dennis James Classic, Germany | Amateur overall — earned pro card | 1st (overall) |
Frequently Asked Questions ❓
Has Vlad Suhoruchko ever competed at Mr. Olympia?
Yes — once. He qualified in 2021 but could not attend because of visa issues, then competed at the 2022 Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas, finishing outside the top 15.
How many pro shows has Vlad Suhoruchko won?
One. His only professional victory so far is the 2022 Yamamoto Pro in Italy. His 2019 Dennis James Classic win was the amateur overall victory that earned him his pro card.
What is Vlad Suhoruchko’s best result?
His best win is the 2022 Yamamoto Pro. His best finish without winning is 2nd place at the 2024 Chicago Pro, behind Mohamed Foda.
Has he ever competed at the Arnold Classic?
No Arnold Classic appearance was found in the results checked for this refresh, including the 2026 Ohio and UK Men’s Open lists. He has no Arnold Classic result on his verified record.
What happened in 2025?
No verified pro contest result for him was found for 2025, and a July 2026 report described his 2026 return as coming after a rest from competing. He has not announced a retirement.
What did he say about the 2026 synthol rumours?
In an Instagram Stories post on July 2, 2026, he denied synthol accusations and said his shoulders are wide and round thanks to his genetics. This article reports his denial only.
Bottom Line ✅
Vlad Suhoruchko’s story is one of patience. A footballer turned bodybuilder, he earned his pro card in 2019, lost an Olympia to paperwork in 2021, won his way back in 2022, and proved in 2024 that he still belongs near the top of strong Open fields.
The 2026 return in Milan was modest — 10th place — but it showed he is still competing. Whether the next step is another Chicago-style run or a quieter road, his Yamamoto win and Olympia debut already secure his place in this era of the Men’s Open. 🏆