UKRAINE: Kiev's open-air gym fashioned out of old scrapyard draws crowds of fitness enthusiasts

Record ID: 644452

  • Title: UKRAINE: Kiev's open-air gym fashioned out of old scrapyard draws crowds of fitness enthusiasts
  • Date: 11th July 2013
  • Summary: KIEV, UKRAINE (JULY 10, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SWIMMING ON THE BANKS OF THE DNIPER RIVER MEN WALKING ON SIDEWALK VARIOUS OF KACHALKA GYM WEIGHT MACHINES VARIOUS OF MEN LIFTING WEIGHTS ON MACHINES WEIGHTS RISING AND FALLING VARIOUS OF MAN ON ROWING WEIGHT MACHINE WEIGHTS FALLING INTO SAND (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) WEIGHTLIFTER MYKHAILO YARMACHENKO, SAYING: "First of all, it is free here. And there are all kind of weight lifting machines here, to keep up good physical shape." VARIOUS OF MAN LIFTING WEIGHT BAR BAR ON SAND VARIOUS OF MAN ON LIFTING MACHINE, WITH ROCK COUNTER WEIGHT SUSPENDED MAN'S LEGS ON LEG PRESS VARIOUS OF GIRL ON RUNNING MACHINE VARIOUS OF WOMAN RUNNING (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) EXERCISE ENTHUSIAST DARYNA KONTANISTOVA, SAYING: "Everything suits me here, I heard rumours, that they can might close this place down. For me it is a shock. I don't want this gym to be shut down - all the people and children who exercise here don't want that, because not everybody has money to visit fitness clubs, for example. For me it's the best place." OLDER MAN LIFTING WEIGHT ON GROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) EXERCISE ENTHUSIAST IVAN MAKLAKOV, SAYING: "I have loved sport since my childhood. I turned 86 on June 22, but I feel very good. I come here everyday. Every day I work out!" VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WORKING OUT ON MACHINES KACHALKA GYM
  • Embargoed: 26th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Health,Quirky,People,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVAAZUNKEOHXKBQCHRJ50G3E3414
  • Story Text: For decades, fitness enthusiasts in the Ukrainian capital Kiev have taken the concept of "pumping iron" almost literally, working out in an open-air gym on the banks of the Dniper River.
    Reminiscent of a mix between California's Muscle Beach and a prison yard, the Kachalka gym features more than 200 weight machines fashioned from old scrap metal and wood, punching bags made from tyres hanging from ropes, and free weights chained to the sandy ground.
    The al fresco fitness centre that attracts brawny muscle men and women from all over Kiev was founded in the 1970s by Kiev engineer Yuri Kook and is completely free.
    On a recent day, exercise enthusiast Mykalo Yarmachenko worked out on an industrial-looking rowing machine. He praised the Kachalka gym and explained its popularity.
    "First of all, it is free here. And there are all kind of weight lifting machines here, to keep up good physical shape," Yarmachenko said.
    Daryna Kontanistova, whose modern running shorts and MP3 player stood in stark contrast to the machine she was running on, said despite its simple designs, the gym fulfils a vital role in the community.
    "Everything suits me here, I heard rumours, that they can might close this place down. For me it is a shock. I don't want this gym to be shut down - all the people and children who exercise here don't want that, because not everybody has money to visit fitness clubs, for example. For me it's the best place," she said.
    Senior citizen Ivan Maklakov said he has enjoyed the gym everyday and it contributes to his good health.
    "I have loved sport since my childhood. I turned 86 on June 22, but I feel very good. I come here everyday. Every day I work out!" he said.
    Kook built the first machines from his own designs from scrap metal, parts of old ships and even Soviet WWII tanks scavenged from junk yards. Since then, the gym has been maintained and run by enthusiasts, who add more self-made equipment every year.
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