D1 Boston Owner Uses Heart Attack To Change His Life: 'It Was All Worth It' | D1 Daily
Nine years ago, Vic Viktorov's life changed. The current D1 Boston-Burlington owner was playing tennis, trying to get in shape after years of inactivity.
Minutes into a warmup, he suffered a “widow maker” heart attack, a blockage of the left anterior descending artery, with a fatality rate of more than 90 percent if untreated within 90 minutes. VIktorov survived and decided to leave corporate life, turning to fitness and making health a priority in his life.
He recently recounted his experience to the American Heart Association (AHA).
(Images courtesy American Heart Association/Cody O'Loughlin)
Viktorov told AHA he was drawn to D1 after traditional gyms refused to work with him following his heart attack. On his own, he felt lost.
He said he opened his D1 facility to bring families together through fitness.
“Seventy percent of my heart survived that day,” he said. "And I’ve poured all of it into this.”
VIktorov is now 49 and said he feels lighter, fitter and more present in his own life.
He said that by sharing his story with the AHA, he hopes to inspire others for their own fitness journey.
“I'm healthier, happier, and more fulfilled than I've ever been,” he said. “And if my story convinces even one person to take their health seriously, then it was all worth it.”
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D1 Daily is produced by Dom Bonvissuto & Ty Wellemeyer
