ASR Supplements was founded by Ako Rahim, an elite athlete, coach and well-known figure in the fitness and health industry. After many years in the fitness world, both on and off the stage, a clear vision emerged: to create nutritional supplements based on passion, experience and uncompromising quality. The products are developed by Ako herself, for those who prioritize quality and want to choose with care. When quality is not a choice, but a given, it should also be noticeable in every detail, from ingredients to the feel in the hand. ASR Supplements stands for honesty, transparency and care. We believe in inspiring an active lifestyle and offering a range where you always know what you are getting. This is more than just supplements – it is Ako Rahim’s view of what you as a trainer deserve.
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From Gladiator to Founder – Ako Rahim’s Journey with AR Supplements
A six-year-old boy ties his karate uniform. It's Ako Rahim, and even as a child he has a drive that will shape his entire life. From that first karate kick, a passion for training and competition was ignited. Years later, young Ako sees a fit gym buddy and thinks: "One day I'll look like that too." That thought becomes the starting point of a journey to the top. This is the story of how a little boy's dream, via the roar of the gladiator arena and countless hours in the gym, led to the creation of AR Supplements - a brand built on integrity, quality and results.
A champion's background: from martial arts to world title Ako Rahim's journey began early. As a teenager, he began to build an impressive track record in training. Through determination and perseverance, he climbed the ranks in Athletic Fitness – a demanding discipline that combines strength, conditioning and physique. In 2011, all his hard work paid off when Ako won the Athletic Fitness World Championship in Estonia. By then, he had already won several Swedish championship titles and made a name for himself as one of Sweden's top fitness athletes. In every competition, he showed discipline and a hunger for improvement – qualities that would become cornerstones of his future business.
At the same time, Ako took his place in the spotlight outside the competition scene. All of Sweden opened its eyes to him in TV4's popular action show Gladiators. For six seasons, he stepped into the arena as the gladiator “Toro”, where his explosiveness and charisma made him a crowd favorite. In the role of Toro – the arena's self-confident “casanova” – he inspired thousands of TV viewers every week with his athletic physique and winning spirit. The experience as a gladiator gave Ako a platform to motivate others: he showed that hard training and strong will can make a modern hero out of anyone. But behind the showman's smile was a serious athlete with an even greater vision.
Coaching and a passion for helping others Despite his own successes, Ako found just as much joy in helping others achieve their goals. In parallel with his competitive career, he built a role as a personal trainer and coach. With over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, Ako has guided thousands of clients towards better health and peak fitness. He is a trained trainer who is passionate about sharing his knowledge, whether it is with beginners who want to get in shape or elite athletes who need to hone that last percent.
In his coaching role, Ako’s beliefs about what it took to achieve real results were strengthened. He saw firsthand what worked – and what didn’t – for people’s training, nutrition and recovery. One thing was clear: there are no shortcuts. “The thing about Ako is that he really prefers quality over quantity,” writes a familiar blogger aptly. This motto, quality over quantity, permeated everything Ako did. As a coach, he taught that it was better to do fewer things really well than many half-heartedly – a philosophy he himself lived by every day.
This philosophy was also evident in his approach to diet and nutrition. Ako constantly experimented with his training plans and diet to find optimal methods. When you train 11–12 sessions a week, as he often did, you need the highest quality fuel to keep your body going. He knew from personal experience that the right supplements could be the difference between progress and stagnation. As a coach, he was careful to only recommend products he could stand by; if a product was flawed, it would never be included in his plans for a client.
Insight: The market is failing on quality After two decades among dumbbells, diet plans and athletes, Ako began to notice a recurring problem. Whether it was a young client who wanted to build muscle or an experienced competitor like himself, the same frustration emerged: the nutritional supplements on the market were not up to par. Ako himself had tried most of them, he needed the best supplements for his own training, but found time and time again that the quality varied dramatically.
For someone who always put results and integrity first, this felt untenable. Ako realized that there was actually a big void to fill. Why weren’t there supplements that he and his clients could fully trust? After working in the fitness world for so long, he could clearly see the need for high-quality products that delivered what they promised. Ako became more and more convinced: if no one else was producing the supplements he wanted, he would do it himself.
From vision to reality: the founding of AR Supplements The drive to make a difference soon turned into a concrete plan. Ako Rahim decided to found his own brand of dietary supplements, something he could stand behind, both to his clients and to his own reflection in the mirror. Years of frustration were replaced by a spark of entrepreneurship: this is where AR Supplements was born. The name bears his own initials, which is no coincidence. Every jar and bag would bear a piece of Ako's name and thus his reputation; it set the bar high from the start.
AR Supplements was started with a clear vision: to offer high-quality supplements that Ako himself could use and proudly recommend. It was never about quickly selling products or riding on his celebrity status. Instead, it was about trust, building a brand on integrity and results. With over 20 years of experience in training and nutrition, Ako ensured that every decision was based on knowledge and real, proven effectiveness. As he himself put it, he wanted to create supplements that customers would actually notice when they trained, things that would actually benefit them.
One of the first principles Ako established was to never compromise on the quality of production. All AR Supplements products are therefore manufactured in Sweden under controls. Swedish-made means that he can personally ensure the highest possible standard at every step, from ingredient to finished product. This may not make the products the cheapest on the market, but that was never the point, the goal was to make them the best. Rather than compete in price pressure, Ako chose to compete in results. Just like in his own training career, he focused on winning the game cleanly.
Quality in every product – based on experience AR Supplements' range was shaped based on the needs Ako himself identified during all his years as an athlete and trainer. Instead of a confusing catalog of similar products, he selected key supplements that cover the whole spectrum of training, health and performance.
Ako Rahim knows what the body needs, both before, during and after training. That's why he has developed a range of dietary supplements that combine function, quality and purity. From protein with the right amino acid profile to well-thought-out PWO products, creatine, vitamins and omega-3 - every ingredient is carefully selected and tested. If Ako doesn't want to take it himself, it doesn't belong in the range. It's that simple.
Not just another one – a brand built on integrity In a world where new supplement brands are popping up every week, it’s easy to think “yet another protein powder on the shelf.” But AR Supplements is something else entirely. It’s the culmination of Ako Rahim’s lifelong journey in training, competition and health – a brand born from passion, experience and uncompromising conviction.
Each product not only bears his initials, but also his promise: never to compromise on quality. Ako always asks the same question: Would I take this myself? If the answer is not an obvious yes – then it does not belong in the range.
AR Supplements is about more than supplements. It's about trust, about honesty, and about building something that lasts.
For those of you who know that quality is not something you take chances with – it is something you live by.
