Fedor Emelianenko’s commitment to conditioning apparently hasn’t slowed down with age, with Vadim Nemkov revealing that the legendary heavyweight once ran an entire half-marathon on a treadmill.
The revelation came during a training camp report from Ushatayka, which followed the team’s preparations for the PFL tournament in Dubai. While discussing Fedor’s 50th birthday, Nemkov was asked what he had gifted the former heavyweight champion.
“A treadmill. A super-duper fancy one. He set it up at home,” Nemkov revealed.
The gift apparently made perfect sense for Fedor’s training routine, with Nemkov explaining how it allows the veteran fighter to maintain his conditioning regardless of the weather.
“Now, in any weather, snow, rain, storm, he can run,” Nemkov said.
Another team member suggested Fedor might prefer running outdoors, adding, “I think Fedor doesn’t mind the weather.”
Nemkov quickly clarified that the former Pride FC champion had developed quite a liking for his new equipment.
“He loves, loves the treadmill. He even ran a half-marathon on the treadmill.”
That’s 21.1 kilometers (13.1 miles) without stepping off the machine, an impressive endurance feat for anyone.
The revelation also sparked some amusing exchanges among the team members, who began discussing how the treadmill handles such lengthy sessions.
“So for Fedor, you have to stop the treadmill twice,” someone joked.
When another person asked why, the explanation came down to the machine’s automatic running limits.
“Well, after an hour. Fancy treadmills, they don’t slow down.”
While his competitive days may be behind him, Emelianenko apparently hasn’t lost his appetite for putting in the miles.
Fedor’s continued training could also prove useful if he follows through on his plans to compete at the Russian Sambo Championship in March 2027. However, Nemkov isn’t entirely convinced his training partner should make that return at 50 and has been actively trying to talk him out of it.
“I tell him: ‘Give the young ones a chance, let the young people win the Russian championship, then the world championship,'” Nemkov said in a recent interview. He also warned that combat sambo could present unnecessary risks for the veteran, adding, “Plus he’s 50 years old, injuries can happen. Also not a very good moment.”
