Kirill "Boombl4" Mikhaylov, the former NAVI star and current captain of Cloud9's CS2 squad, has always been known for his fearless playstyle. However, behind the scenes, his health was spiraling. In a recent revelation, Boombl4 shared his impressive transformation journey, detailing how he shed over 40 kilograms. This article delves into Boombl4's weight loss journey, exploring the challenges he faced, the methods he employed, and the impact it has had on his life and career.
The Beginning: Childhood Struggles and Hypothyroidism
Boombl4 revealed that issues with excess weight began in his childhood due to hypothyroidism and metabolic disorders. Up until the age of 19, he suffered from a small thyroid, which significantly affected his metabolism. As he explained, "I could eat very little and still put on 10kgs in a month, so it was a health problem. It was never the case that I liked to gorge on food, as a lot of people may think."
Taking Control: The Start of the Diet
In May 2023, Mikhaylov embarked on a weight loss journey, managing to lose 12 kilograms in the first month. He emphasized that losing weight was challenging for him due to a lack of physical activity.
The Numbers: From 192kg to 164kg
Boombl4's weight loss journey has been significant. He revealed that he once weighed around 192kg and has successfully brought it down to 164kg. This transformation is a testament to his dedication and hard work.
Echoes of Transformation: Other Celebrities and Their Journeys
Boombl4's journey resonates with other celebrities who have openly discussed their weight loss experiences and motivations:
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- Sierra Schultzzie: "I didn’t want to chase skinny-I wanted to chase peace." Her words reflect a desire for inner well-being rather than just physical appearance.
- Sara Waisglass: “People thought I was trying to be perfect. Honestly? I was just trying to feel like myself again.” This sentiment highlights the importance of self-acceptance and personal comfort.
- Cynthia Erivo: Her noticeable weight loss sparked considerable attention, demonstrating the public's fascination with celebrity transformations.
These examples underscore that weight loss is often a deeply personal journey driven by a desire for improved health and self-esteem.
NAVI's Victory at BLAST Premier World Final
Amidst his personal transformation, Boombl4 continued to lead NAVI to success. At the BLAST Premier World Final, NAVI recovered from an early upset loss to Liquid in the opening series. They went on to eliminate HEROIC, Nikola "NiKo" Kovač's G2, and ultimately defeated Liquid in the lower bracket final.
Boombl4 discussed Liquid's decision to pick Inferno as their map, stating, "They saw our Inferno, the third map [in the opening series], they were leading like 14-4 and they thought they could destroy us easily. If they picked Overpass, we were playing it really bad but we fixed our problems on it as well, so I don't know. Maybe it would have been better for them? It depends on their confidence, but we always work on our maps that aren't good. Our pick, Dust2, I think it's a better map for us because their T side is maybe not so strong."
He also mentioned the team's dedication to improvement, saying, "We're adding new things day by day and we're watching how our enemies are playing Banana, because that's the main position on the map. We don't have a lot of time because we played a lot of tournaments and when you make it to the final you don't have a lot of days to practice every map."
Leadership and Team Dynamics
Boombl4's role as an in-game leader is crucial to his team's success. He acknowledged the influence of B1ad3, stating, "He's teaching me how to be better all of the time. We're not trying to be one in-game leader telling all four players what to do, we're trying to all be on one level of understanding in the game, working together."
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He also addressed the team's energy levels, saying, "We understand that it's the last tournament and that we need to show our maximum because it was a great year for us. The Major, a lot of titles, and you know, if you win a lot of trophies you don't want to lose the last tournament, two games and just go to the holidays after. The second game will be more about the energy and fuel."
Early Days: From Quantum Bellator Fire to NAVI
Boombl4's career began with Quantum Bellator Fire, where he helped the team achieve a playoff run at ELEAGUE Major Boston in early 2018. He later joined NAVI, a significant step in his career. "You could even say that that’s how you ruin someone's life. Personally, I don’t know what would happen to me had Winstrike not let me leave for NAVI," he reflected.
Personal Preferences and Influences
In an interview, Boombl4 discussed a variety of topics, including his favorite teams to watch, his best and worst teammates, and his personal life.
He enjoys watching FURIA's matches, praising arT as "a madman of a player who constantly rushes around and pushes in, yet manages to maintain positive stats." He also mentioned liking Liquid on LAN and MIBR.
When asked about his best and worst teammates, Boombl4 named flamie as his best teammate, stating, "Ever since my time in QBF, I always mentioned that I wanted to play with him." His worst teammate was wayLander, "only because he would exclusively train with the team and never dedicate time to individual training."
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Overcoming Challenges: Health Problems and Personal Growth
Boombl4 has faced numerous challenges throughout his career, including health problems and personal relationships. At the BLAST Fall Final, he played with a high fever and gastritis. "Maybe you can feel tired because at the last tournament, the BLAST Fall Final, I was having some health problems. I had 39 degree temperature for six days and gastritis and some problems with my teeth so it was really hard to play that tournament."
Despite these challenges, he has remained focused on improving himself and his team. His weight loss journey is a testament to his determination and resilience.
Personal Life and Fears
Boombl4 shared some personal details, including his fears and aspirations. He admitted to being scared of getting lost in the airport, crawling insects, and sleeping in the dark with the door open. He also expressed a desire to find a partner with whom he could travel the world. "I’d like to meet a person that I enjoy spending time with, someone I could travel the world and share my emotions with."
Reflections on the Past
Looking back, Boombl4 reflected on his early days in Counter-Strike. "When I was six, my uncle Sasha showed me CS 1.5 and I remember how I played on cs_assault against bots. I really enjoyed the game, and for around five or six years, I played on the public local servers of my area. After that I started playing other games like Pointblank and League of Legends."
He also discussed the impact of the pandemic on his life, saying, "The pandemic has really changed my life, every day is the same and you become a robot, there isn’t enough vibrance in it."
Favorite Places
Boombl4 highlighted a few places that he particularly enjoyed: Lisbon (Portugal), Barcelona (Spain), Atlanta (USA), and Chongqing (China). "Every place had its own allure, I really liked the people and the atmosphere in Atlanta, while Portugal was really beautiful."