From athlete to influencer: Vlad Belousov’s rise and controversial business ventures
Vlad Belousov, a 29-year-old from Orsha, has built a substantial online following while transitioning from sports to contentious business ideas. Starting as an athlete, he later turned to social media, amassing millions of followers across TikTok and Instagram. His career advice has included cryptocurrency promotion, internet traffic reselling, and allegations of unethical practices—including ties to unregulated gambling platforms.
Belousov began his career in track and field before switching to field hockey. His mother, a professional field hockey coach, became his first trainer. Five years ago, he launched a TikTok channel to promote the sport and quickly gained traction, eventually reaching over 2.5 million followers on TikTok and nearly 900,000 on Instagram.
Belousov’s journey spans sports, social media influence, and high-risk small business ideas. His promotion of unregulated gambling and past legal issues have drawn scrutiny. With a massive online presence, his actions continue to attract both followers and critics.
