Iron Game
Veteran
Steve Kuclo is an in-demand and popular bodybuilder. But how much do you really know about the guy, other than that he’s got a hell of a physique and works as a firefighter/EMT in Texas? As he prepares to make his fourth Olympia appearance, it’s time you got to know the dude called “Kingsnake” a little better.
1. Who was the first bodybuilder you were ever a fan of or followed?
That would be Ronnie Coleman. At the first gym I trained at, there was a group of us young guys who were really into bodybuilding, or at least we wanted to be. One of them had the famousRonnie video “The Unbelievable” and a couple of those “Battle for the Olympia” tapes too. We would go to his house after the workouts and watch them over and over. Ronnie was just badass— a huge freak who was strong as hell.
2. What was the first pro show you ever attended?
I was only 16 when I drove from Michigan to Ohio for the 2002 Arnold Classic. That was the first year Jay Cutler won. I had been to a couple of local shows already. What really struck me about the Arnold was the sheer size of the stage and how many people were in the audience, even more so than how awesome the guys competing were. I said to myself, one day I’m gonna be up on that stage!
3. Who was the first pro you ever saw in person?
It was Nasser El Sonbaty, when he came to Michigan to guest pose at one of our shows. He had to be around 315 pounds, just a monster of a man. It was one of the first contests I had ever been to, and I remembered thinking I would need to be that big before I did my first show. Luckily I didn’t wait, or I would probably be waiting the rest of my life.
4. What was the first body part you noticed that grew once you started training?
Oddly enough, it was my triceps. I played football growing up and we did tons of push-ups and bench presses. Back in the weight room I would do cable pushdowns all the time and the coach used to tease me, “Kuclo, are you trying to get big arms for the girls?”
It is. When I was 17, I started training with Justin “Troponin” Harris, and until then I had no concept that some guys were meant to be a lot bigger and muscular than others. I just thought I was growing so fast because I trained harder than everyone else in the gym. I had gone to shows and was reading the magazines, but I still never heard enough about genetics to know how much of an influence they had. Then I was getting ready for a show and I remember asking Justin why I was still growing while I was dieting, when other guys seemed to shrink. He just laughed and said, “You’re a freak, Steve— you just don’t know it yet.”
6. What is your favorite exercise, and least favorite?
I love military presses for shoulders, seated or standing. I’ve gone as heavy as 405 for a few good reps on the seated military. Shoulders have always been a strong body part for me. I hate preacher curls, with either a straight bar or an EZ-curl bar. I get these extreme pumps and the pain is unbearable. I have really tight fascia around my biceps, and lately I’ve been getting deep-tissue massage on them to help loosen it up. But man, preachers just kill.
7. You were born in Detroit and moved to Dallas (Fire Dept.) back in 2011. Would you ever want to live in Michigan again? Would you live in Los Angeles?
Michigan, no way. Once I got away from those arctic winters, I was all done. It’s tough being away from my family and friends, but they can move here! As for Los Angeles, if something came up with acting or the movies and it were a career move, sure. Otherwise, I’m all set.
8. If you could go back in time and be part of any era or group of bodybuilders, which one would you choose and why?
I liked the group of guys in the mid-‘90s like Shawn, Flex, Dorian, and Levrone. Those were some amazing physiques. That being said, I like where the sport is headed now and I hope to be part of a generation of pros that some other young guys many years from now will say, “Wow, that was when I wish I was a pro— Kuclo and those guys were awesome!”
Oh, definitely the off-season. My schedule isn’t as rigid and demanding, and I just have more time available without all the cardio. Obviously you can eat more, lift heavier, and have more energy. My off-season workouts are a lot more fun than pre-contest.
10. What’s the hardest aspect of contest-prep for you?
Sleep, or lack thereof. Every third day for the Fire Dept. I work a 24-hour shift, and at the very least my sleep will typically get interrupted a couple of times. There have been a few times when we just kept getting calls, and there was no time in that shift to sleep at all. Then somehow I still had to dig down and get to the gym to train once I got off work.
11. If you could train with any Mr. Olympia winner, past or present (in his prime), who would you pick?
Probably Arnold and the crew that was in the movie “Pumping Iron.” They had a different style of training, and I think it would be neat to show them some of the things we do nowadays. Imagine being able to say you taught Arnold a thing or two about training!
12. Of all the types of supplements you take, which two or three do you consider absolutely essential?
Easy. BCAAs and L-Glutamine. Those two are my staples.
Back in high school, my football team used to have double sessions. We would practice from 3 to 6, then 6 to 9— and I would go train myself after that. I didn’t care how tired I was; I had to get my workouts in. The meals are tougher to get now. A lot of times I get a call and I eat a meal in the ambulance on the way to respond. I don’t always get to finish the meal, but I do my best. Obviously there is no time to spare when someone’s life is on the line, even if I need my chicken breast and sweet potato!
14. You have a pretty unique look— what is your ethnicity? You’re not related to that kid that plays Jacob in the “Twilight” movies, are you?
People have said I look a little like a jacked Taylor Lautner, but no. I’m actually Italian, Polish, and Ukrainian. I do get the American Indian question sometimes, but I’m all European.
15. Have you ever thrown up on leg day? What was the worst incident?
It’s rare for me because I don’t throw up easily anyway. The only time I ever recall throwing up after a workout was one time when I tried some pre-workout drink that had an insane amount of stimulants in it. But I still made it all the way through the workout before I went to the bathroom and got sick. I’ve never puked during a workout in my life.
16. Who hits on you more— dudes or chicks?
It’s a fair share of both. Women tend to be more intimidated by my muscle, or else they stereotype bodybuilders as mean, arrogant, players, whatever. I only really get that type of attention— not that I’m looking for it— from women in this industry. They’re used to the look and they work out, so they are more inclined to appreciate a good physique. Guys are weird because at first you can’t tell if they’re just giving you a sincere compliment, or if they are interested in another way. Usually they either say something, or you get a vibe that lets you know they are interested that way. I’m always polite, except for very rare occasions when a guy comes on aggressively and it’s uncomfortable. But I am always polite unless I’m put into a situation where I need to make it clear I’m not interested.
My wife has probably gotten way more of them like this than I have, but I have had requests from guys who want to oil me up, or tie them up and beat them. Really. Needless to say, I delete those and do the block sender thing. I don’t judge, but I just don’t want to go back and forth with people who are into that stuff.
18. Has any movie ever scared you so bad you got nightmares?
When I was a kid I watched that Stephen King movie “It” that was on TV with that evil clown. That really freaked me out. Then when “The Blair Witch Project” came out on DVD a while back, I watched that by myself at home in the dark one night and that was pretty rough. That movie was intense because they never show anything. Your mind fills in the blanks with whatever you’re afraid of.
19. If you could take any stubborn body part of yours and trade it for someone else’s, what trade would you make?
I’m working on my chest and my back and they’re getting a lot better, but in this scenario I guess I would want a chest like Branch’s and a back like Ronnie’s. Can’t go wrong with those two.
20. If you could talk to yourself at age 17, what’s the most important advice you would give the younger Steve?
Listen to your parents, because 99 percent of the time they’re right. Maybe closer to 100 percent. Work hard and follow your dreams, and it will all work out for you.
