He is a People's Artist of Russia (1999) and the head of the Russian medical and rehabilitation center of the musculoskeletal system diseases.

His father Ivan Grigoryevich (1920–1950) was Ukrainian by nationality and worked as a serviceman in the NKVD and its successor, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but was killed in the line of duty.

In his free time he trained in gymnastics, wrestling, weightlifting, balancing acts, acrobatics, juggling, and stunts, and eventually became involved with the circus in Kaunas.

[3] During one such performance, a steel support cross beam suddenly broke, and Valentin fell from 13 meters.

[3] Dikul trained for 5–6 hours a day lifting objects, stretching rubber bands and performing push-ups; however, his legs did not work.

[4] Dikul was also known for his immense strength, in which he displayed mostly in the form of juggling, flipping, and snatching massive kettlebells.