Dimitar Nenkov (Bulgaria) has been certified on the Captains of Crush No. 3 gripper, marking him as having world-class grip strength, and, at 70 kg body weight, he is the second lightest man ever to do this, and the lightest in over 25 years!

Nenkov told IronMind, “I am a former tennis player. Training my hands has always been very important for me. I also want to break the weighted pull-up record. I can currently do 1RM with 90 kg added weight. 

“I train with grippers almost every day with some minor exceptions. I also do a lot of thick bar training. I currently work as a business trainer in the biggest pension insurance company in Bulgaria. I like traveling a lot, meeting my friends, going to the cinema and watching comedy movies. I have a wife, whom I adore.

“I have been training with CoC (Captains of Crush) grippers since 2011. I was reading an interview with armwrestling legend John Brzenk, who spoke about having been able to nearly close a COC 3 gripper back in his prime. 

“The first gripper that I ordered was COC 4 and of course, I could barely move it back in 2011. The first one that I was able to fully close was COC 2

“I train with grippers 4-5 times a week – a warm up with COC 2.5 and some singles with COC 3 and COC 3.5. I train also with Fat Gripz, and once a week I do weighted pull ups. From time to time, I am also using IronMind’s wrist roller. I have also a homemade Titan’s Telegraph Key

“My work does not involve using my hand strength. But my grip strength greatly improves my overall weightlifting results.

“As for the grippers,I believe a COC 3.5 certification will be a substantial accomplishment for me one day," Nenkov said.

Here's a video of Dimitar Nenkov's official attempt to close the Captains of Crush No. 3 gripper.

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