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Alexander Tovt on discipline, bodybuilding, and motivation that cannot be measured by medals
Working in the Corps of Prison and Court Guard requires responsibility, self-control, and the ability to keep a cool head. Similar qualities are also needed in bodybuilding, where results are born from regular training, patience, and consistency. Alexander Tovt, a case manager for remand prisoners at the Košice-Šaca prison, has been bridging these two worlds for several years. In the interview, he explains what competition preparation entails, how he manages to balance duty with training, and why his family – especially his six-year-old daughter – is his greatest motivation.
1. Working in the Corps of Prison and Court Guard and lifting weights after work. How did you get into bodybuilding and what keeps you in it to this day?
I got into bodybuilding gradually and eight years ago I tried my first competition, three competitions a year, back then in the Men’s Physique category for juniors. What I enjoy most about bodybuilding is that a person is never at the end of their journey. There is always something to improve, somewhere to move forward, and something to overcome. I think that once you feel the iron in your hands, there is no turning back. It becomes a part of your life.
2. Discipline decides both on duty and in the gym. In what way do you think these two worlds are most similar?
In my opinion, these two worlds have much more in common than it seems. In both cases, a person must follow rules, take responsibility for their decisions, and be able to function even when things are not going well or they are not having their best day. On duty, I cannot rely only on my mood, and the same applies to bodybuilding. It is not enough to train only when I feel like it. Results are created through regularity and self-discipline.
3. Behind a competition physique are hours of training and a strict diet. What was the hardest part during the preparation for the last competition?
Preparation is not just about training. It is a test of the mind, character, and willpower. It is a period where you have to sacrifice many things that are taken for granted by others. People do not see the months of preparation, the precisely set diet, the exact counting of grams and calories, the regular training, and the hour-long cardio sessions. For me, it was important to endure to the end and know that I did my best. The hardest part was resisting food temptations. As I say, people who haven't tried it don't know what it takes, so every day at work I heard 'just have a little bit, it won't hurt you' or 'what could it possibly do?' Precisely these words motivated me even more and I resisted the temptations because I knew that those decisions would be worth seeing at the end of the preparation.
4. Duty has its obligations and bodybuilding has its regimen. How do you manage to combine work, training, and personal life?
It is primarily about planning and priorities. I prepare my food in advance, and I try to plan my training sessions according to my duty schedule. Despite all this, I am also a father to a six-year-old daughter, to whom I try to devote as much time as possible. She is a very important part of my life and I want to be there for her fully. It is not always easy to reconcile work duties, training, and personal life.
5. Working in the Corps of Prison and Court Guard can be mentally demanding. Does sports help you relieve stress and maintain mental well-being?
Definitely yes. Training is my way of clearing my head and releasing tension. At the same time, I think a person needs something where they can switch off and recharge. For me, that place is the gym. It is a space where I can leave stress at the door, focus on myself, and leave with a clearer head.
6. Not every day does a person feel like training. What motivates you to continue even when energy or determination is running low?
What pushes me forward the most are the words of people: 'Why are you doing it? You will grow old one day anyway, it has no meaning.' Today, they say it's 'cool' to have it in your head, not in your arms. However, I think a person can have both – a brain and a strong body. Therefore, exactly such comments motivate me even more. I don't need to prove anything to anyone, and above all, I don't want to regret giving up something because of others' opinions. My greatest motivation, however, is my family and especially my daughter, for whom I want to be a role model. When she says: 'Daddy, you are so strong!' ❤️, at that moment all those hours of training and sacrifice have much more meaning than any medal.
7. Bodybuilding is not just about muscles. Has it taught you something that you also use in the performance of your duty?
Certainly. Above all patience, self-control, and the ability to keep a cool head. In bodybuilding, a person learns that not everything comes at once, but over time. On duty, these qualities are very important because a person must know how to react prudently, professionally, and with respect.
8. You recently measured your strength on a competition stage. With what feelings and results did you leave, and what did this experience give you?
Yes, on October 24, 2026 (Saturday), a bodybuilding and fitness competition was held in Slovakia for the first time under the organizer NPC Slovakia. Under this brand, significant competitions are organized for amateur and professional competitors. Even though I didn't manage to place in the TOP 5 out of 16 competitors, I am incredibly proud that I made it to the end. I am, of course, satisfied with my physique, but there is still room for improvement, and so I believe that at the next competition I will take a spot in the TOP 5.
9. Colleagues know you in uniform, bodybuilding fans know you on stage. Which of these two roles describes you more and why?
In uniform, I fulfill my duties; in training, I push my own limits.
10. Every goal opens the door to another challenge. What's next for you?
Currently, I want to continue training, improving, and using the experience from the last competition for further progress. Every preparation shows me where I have reserves and what I need to work on.
11. And the last question: what will come first – another competition or a day without counting calories?
After the competition, I definitely wanted to rest a bit and enjoy food without constantly monitoring calories. But when a person functions in a certain regimen for many months, they find that they actually enjoy that system. So I guess I won't even realize it and I'll start the next preparation and next year we'll see each other on stage again.
The interview with Alex shows that discipline, self-control, and responsibility are values that have their place not only in bodybuilding but also in the daily performance of duty in the Corps of Prison and Court Guard. Behind every uniform and competition physique, however, is above all a person who has their goals, challenges, and personal motivations. For Alexander, the greatest one is his daughter, to whom he wants to be a good example. On the competition stage, points and ranking may decide, but true strength is also manifested in everyday life – in a responsible approach to work, in determination to push one's own limits, and in the time we devote to our loved ones.
We thank Alexander for the interview and wish him much success. May discipline and determination help him not only in fulfilling his service duties but also on his path to further sports achievements.
