Timur Sabirov is the president of Uzbekistan's Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, founder of the PROFORM chain and Generation Iron's representative in Central Asia. A multiple-time absolute champion of Uzbekistan (2006–2008), he went from training in a basement gym at 13 to bringing Uzbek athletes onto the Arnold Classic stage.
The start: the '90s, a basement, and obsession
Timur's love for iron came at 13, in an ordinary basement gym. "I walked into the gym, saw all of it and said: 'This is mine.' Love at first sight. And from that moment I never missed a single day." These were the hard years of perestroika. He had to earn money for protein himself, washing cars at the market and working with his father. By 15 he was reading physiology and endocrinology at a third-year university level, out of pure interest in how the body works.
From athlete to champion
At 17, Timur was already working as a coach. His first competition came at almost 19: "I stepped on stage and got such a rush of adrenaline that I started loving it. I performed brilliantly and took gold right away." Then three years of almost non-stop competing, and the title of absolute champion of Uzbekistan.
The turning point: the birth of an organizer
The turn came because of an injustice — athletes weren't paid the prize money they were promised. "That's when I set myself a goal: athletes will not suffer like this." He organized the first commercial championship in Uzbekistan's history with the largest prize fund, and at 23–24 he took over the federation.
Onto the world stage
2012, Vietnam, the first Asian Championship and the first gold medal; Uzbekistan's anthem played before delegations from 40 nations. 2017, the Arnold Classic, Timur's protégé Mikhail Volynkin wins among amateurs and earns pro status. "Bodybuilding came alive in Uzbekistan."
Today: PROFORM and a bigger goal
Today Timur is building PROFORM — the national team's training base, with Life Fitness equipment and the atmosphere of the legendary Gold's Gym. "I want us to become the center of bodybuilding in Asia." But what drives him is the same thing as at 13: "It's a rush of energy, a charge for the whole day. This is my life."