G.Tsolmonkhuu, Head of the Military Service and Moral Education Division at the Defense Polytechnic College of the National Defense University, is not only a career military officer but also an accomplished athlete in kettlebell lifting and a recognized International Master of Sport. Though relatively new to the sport, he has made remarkable progress in a short span of time and now represents Mongolia and his institution at various prestigious international and continental competitions.

In 2022, he won the gold medal in the amateur division of the Asian Kettlebell Lifting Championship held in Astana, Kazakhstan. The following year, he advanced to the professional division and earned a bronze medal—a significant achievement marking his transition to the sport’s elite level.

At the recent Asian Championship in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, some of the Mongolian athletes won medals. Why didn’t you take part?
 

I’m currently undergoing a selection process to serve in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Republic of South Sudan. Because of this commitment, I’ve had to forgo participating in international competitions this year. Most recently, I competed in the inaugural National Adult Kettlebell Championship organized by the Mongolian Kettlebell Sport Federation in March, where I secured first place in the professional men’s heavyweight division (up to 92 kg). Within the Armed Forces, kettlebell lifting championships are held annually, and the best athletes are selected. I work at the National Defense University, and alongside the university’s physical education instructors, we successfully organized the 2025 national championship for professionals. In professional divisions, men lift paired 32 kg red kettlebells, while women lift 24 kg red kettlebells. Many are unaware of the color and weight standards for each division—for instance, amateur competitors typically lift 24 kg kettlebells.

We’ve heard that you never skip training, no matter how busy you are. Is it true you train early in the morning?
 

Yes, I’m a government employee working in the military sector, and I make it a point to train early in the morning before work. As a child, I practiced freestyle wrestling and powerlifting, earning several medals along the way. After graduating from a military academy, I served in Bayan-Ulgii Province for three years before moving to Ulaanbaatar City. That’s when I first heard about kettlebell lifting competitions at the National Defense University. The Armed Forces’ “March-Tactics” competitions also include a kettlebell component.

I took part in the 2018 and 2019 competitions but didn’t earn any medals. Determined to succeed, I set a goal and began studying the sport in detail. I discovered that kettlebell lifting promotes overall physical development, engaging all muscles and tendons while positively influencing one’s lifestyle, mindset, character, and attitude. What’s great about this sport is that age doesn’t matter—and since it requires very little space, you can train virtually anywhere.

When you first started the sport, what goals did you set for yourself?
 

My initial goal was to become a national champion. I missed out on medals twice, which pushed me to closely observe how successful athletes trained. Double world champion E.Budjav, who is younger than me, and I were both relatively new to the sport back then. We supported each other and trained together. Even during the COVID-19 lockdown, I would continue training after work.

In 2020, I competed in the Armed Forces Kettlebell Championship and won two silver medals—that was the turning point in my sports career. Motivated by the recognition, I committed to training more seriously. With considerable effort, I managed to win three gold medals each at the 2021 and 2022 National Adult Championships, steadily improving my skill level.

Then, one day, Honored Athlete and coach G.Uurtsolmon approached me and said, “You should compete at the Asian Championship in Astana, Kazakhstan.” That competition was attended by S.Tuyatsetseg, N.Madigaiym, E.Budjav, and myself. Lifting a pair of 32 kg kettlebells continuously for 10 minutes is extremely demanding. Representing your country means pushing past fatigue—there’s no room for error.

From the men’s team, N.Madigaiym and I became Asian champions, E.Budjav claimed double silver medals, and from the women’s team, S.Tuyatsetseg won a gold medal. That championship marked a new chapter in the history of Mongolian kettlebell lifting.

Mongolian athletes had never competed in the professional division before. But your team not only entered it—you also earned medals and paved the way for others.
 

That’s right. When we first competed at the Asian Championship, we realized that Mongolians had never taken part in the professional category before. After returning from Kazakhstan, we committed ourselves fully to preparing for the next year’s championship—this time as professionals.

In 2023, the competition was fierce, especially with strong contenders from Russia. Facing elite lifters in the professional division for the first time, I wasn’t confident about winning a medal. Mentally, it was a tough battle—we felt unstable, even overwhelmed. But athletes from other countries encouraged us, saying, “Mongolia does have professional kettlebell lifters after all. If this time was about gaining experience, make sure to push harder next time.” That support meant a lot.

I managed 86 lifts in 10 minutes and brought home a bronze medal from the Asian Championship. In kettlebell sport, lifting too fast increases the risk of a miss, and going too slow means losing points. Success lies in mastering the technique. Most importantly, you must control your breathing, balance speed and strength, and be fully in tune with your body. Everything must work in harmony.

You’ve proven that with purpose and determination, nothing is impossible.
 

Exactly. It’s about using the immense potential within you wisely. Kettlebell sport reveals who an athlete truly is—physically, mentally, and emotionally. During a 10-minute lift, your mind runs through countless thoughts. The moment I saw our national flag, I was reminded of my homeland. I became deeply aware that I was representing not just myself, but my country and its people. Even when drenched in sweat, and your arms feel like they can’t hold on any longer, you push through—telling yourself you must lift until the last second. That’s where true resilience is built—when you overcome hardship with inner strength.

While preparing to compete in the amateur category at the Asian Championship in Kazakhstan, a Russian athlete told me, “Mongolia is one of the strongest nations in the world.” That struck a chord. His words reminded me that I come from a proud and powerful nation—and I must carry that strength with me. With that mindset, I trained even harder, determined to return home with a medal. And when Mongolia’s national anthem echoed through the arena in Astana, it became one of the most unforgettable and joyful moments of my life.

I was proud to represent my fellow soldiers and the sons of so many Mongolian fathers. When we returned home, my respected coach said, “You are not just athletes—you wear the uniform. And many others will follow your path.” As he predicted, many athletes after us have gone on to achieve great success, some even earning the title of International Master of Sports.

Kettlebell lifting is growing in many countries, but Russian dominance still seems unchallenged. Why is that?

Russia’s consistent success comes from using kettlebell sport as a foundational strength training across disciplines. Though competitors, we also learn from them. Russian athletes serve as role models—not just for their performance, but their discipline, psychological strength, composure, focus, skills, and strategy. Kettlebell lifting is a mental sport above all. You don’t just compete against others—you compete against yourself. To reach your goals, you must train not only your body but also master your mind.

How do foreign athletes generally perceive Mongolian athletes when they come to compete?
 

They seem to simply regard us with curiosity and as competitors aiming to gain experience. For me personally, I always value the purpose of competing in any tournament. Rather than focusing on winning first place, I strive to mobilize all my available resources and capabilities. I never imagined myself becoming an Asian champion. During competitions, I focused only on moving forward without paying much attention to the rivalry. However, when they announced my father’s name and said “Mongolian athlete G.Tsolmonkhuu,” I understood that I had won first place. Our national anthem has a beautiful melody. Standing and listening to it playing on the medal podium moves me emotionally and excites me involuntarily. Having participated in the continental championship and becoming the champion, I now have thoughts of competing in the World Championship.

Is it true that Mongolian athletes generally have stronger mental resilience and endurance compared to foreign athletes? How can this be observed?

While foreign athletes often train for many years to achieve success, Mongolians train intensively for about five years and still manage to compete on equal footing. Wherever we go, we quickly adapt to new environments and learn things fast, which is a notable advantage. Mongolians naturally have strong bones, feet, and wrists, which contribute to success in kettlebell. This is probably connected to the unique nomadic lifestyle, physical labor, and growing up with riding horses and herding livestock. 

Athletes expand their circle of friendship during competitions. I regularly stay in contact and exchange information with athletes from Australia, China, India, South Korea, the Buryat region of Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Before the Asian Championships held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, they contacted me and invited me to come and compete with them. I won’t participate this time because I will be on duty in a UN peacekeeping operation in the Republic of South Sudan, but I will continue my training without interruption. Kettlebell is a sport where age doesn’t matter; people can train and achieve success at any age. After our team returned with medals from the continental championship, many young people who compete as amateurs got motivated and are now competing against professionals.

It is said that this sport brings many positive changes to a person’s health. Could you share some interesting details about this?
 

Yes. For example, kettlebell lifting strengthens bones, activates muscles, tendons, and tissues, and helps heal diseases of internal organs. It boosts the immune system and increases vitality, improving overall quality of life. Recently, people have started avoiding chemical-based products and medicines, preferring to stay healthy through sports and active living. Before I started this sport, I had considerable health problems. I recently took a medical test, and the results were healthy, which made me very happy. People generally use only a small fraction of their potential. It feels like a waste to live through life without fully using it. If you thoroughly study the risks and benefits of the sport you practice and master the techniques correctly, you can achieve success without wasting time.

Have you started to feel the challenges of working as a coach firsthand?
 

Students at the National Defense University are athletic. Recently, I have started coaching them and share what I know and can do without holding back. I have begun training them to become professional athletes. Some have already succeeded and became Army champions. Three of them hold the title of International Master of Sports. I have begun to understand the difficulties of coaching from the very start. 

While the human body can be trained, dealing with the athlete’s psychology is not as easy as it seems. Success rewards people with encouragement. It’s wonderful for someone who works hard toward their goal to achieve their dreams. Mongolians say “encourage with morale, not with money.” That encouragement gives athletes energy and makes them determined and motivated to work persistently. Athletes who practice kettlebell maintain a clear mind and body. No matter how busy I am, I never postpone my training. My wife and mother support me greatly. We have three daughters. Our eldest daughter is interested in kettlebell lifting. If she trains consistently, I will fully support her.

This sport tests toughness and endurance a lot, doesn’t it?
 

Gaining or losing weight is hard. It strongly affects the psyche and can destabilize it. It tests toughness and endurance greatly. Since athletes are human, they get discouraged and feel exhausted sometimes. During the Asian Championship, I lost eight kilograms. Even if I cooked food, the broth wasn’t nutritious enough. I competed by just eating apples. Success doesn’t come easily to athletes. Facing such obstacles and difficulties is normal. 

During training, I lift weights at least 20,000 times and master the techniques precisely. Kettlebell lifting requires flexibility. You learn very quickly. Seeing the hard work and sweat every day eventually turn into success is the best feeling. Later, I want to establish a club and train professional athletes from a young age. My goal is simple but clear: to promote this sport widely and develop it as a public fitness activity. As an athlete, I aim to improve my performance in the professional category and achieve the goal of becoming a world champion.