The future legend spent most of his time at a sports school in his native Stary Oskol, a sleepy town some 200 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border. Its founder Nikolay Belousov – the man who trained Fedor's trainer – does not see Emelianenko as a phenomenon, just a product of his champion factory.

“We always tell our students – second place is a failure. There is nothing but first. It is hard, but it works,” says Belousov.

Today, there are about 500 children at the school – all of them from many different backgrounds, but united with one goal. Not surprisingly, everybody there wants to match Emelianenko’s records – or even beat them.

For 14-year-old Vova Molodykh, being like Fedor is not just his dream, he feels it is his destiny. He has taken judo classes for five years already. He has also achieved a lot, but says there is still a long way to go:

“Fedor has always been saying that you have to work hard – and then you will be rewarded. He has achieved a lot – but it cost him a lot as well. He has earned all his titles with blood and sweat. We also have to believe in ourselves and keep on moving – whatever it costs.”

Not one of the students at the school has any doubts that there is only one way to reach the top – to start from the bottom.