Two-time world wrestling champion from Kyrgyzstan Akzhol Makhmudov said in an interview published by United World Wrestling that he dreams of winning a gold medal at the Olympics in Paris and putting this medal on his father.
In the interview the athlete told about the importance of fans and supporters. They give him the strength to fight and the incentive to win, he said. Akzhol also told about his idols.
«My idols changed often. For example, I set an idol for myself — the champion of Asia. And when I became the champion of Asia, I was already looking up to another athlete who had achieved more. My idols were the silver medalist of the Olympic Games Kanat Begaliev, in childhood — Ryspek Topchubaev. I watched their fights on YouTube and dreamed that my fights would appear there too. Later, I created a YouTube channel myself, uploaded a video there and was glad that I was there, although there were no views,» Akzhol Makhmudov told.
He disclosed the main secret of his victories. He told that since childhood he has paid great attention to technique. The wrestler does not like to win due to physical strength and endurance.
Akzhol Makhmudov also told about the origin of his nickname «Shark». According to him, as a teenager, he took the nickname of his idol.
«There is a Russian wrestler Arslan Zubairov. He won the European Championship, World Championship and Olympic Games in one year. He was called «Shark» on social media. I also created an account on Instagram and put the nickname «Shark.1». So, people began to call me Shark. When I grew up, I deleted this nickname. I wrote my name».
Akzhol Makhmudov told that in 2020 he got an injury and underwent a complicated surgery. And the fact that the Tokyo Olympics were postponed for one year due to the coronavirus pandemic was a big advantage for him. After all, he was able to get back on his feet after the surgery only by the end of 2020. He had time to prepare for the Olympics.
I used this time to the maximum benefit. I turned off my phone for eight months. I thought about winning every day before going to bed and waking up in the morning. I imagined how I would raise the flag of Kyrgyzstan, the anthem would play. It was very difficult. But I wanted to prove that an injury is not a reason to give up sports. After all, most athletes end their sports careers after an injury.
Akzhol Makhmudov
Recall, Akzhol Makhmudov won a silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
«At that time, I had such incomprehensible feelings. On the one hand, I was happy with the medal, on the other, I could not stand the fact that I did not win gold. However, before that, I had won two world championships and was not so happy. Despite everything, August 3, 2021 is one of the happiest days of my life. I didn’t sleep until the morning. I think there were 5,000 missed calls on my phone,» the wrestler recalls.
Now, according to him, he is full of energy and intends to win gold at the Olympic Games in Paris.
«If my father is there at that time, I dream of putting a gold medal on him. All my thoughts are about this. I can’t sleep well thinking about the Olympics. The most important thing now is to get on the top step of the podium,» Akzhol Makhmudov concluded.
