Legendary Kazakh champion announces retirement
The first Kazakh athlete in history to win a Short Track World Cup stage and a four-time Olympian announced that he is moving into coaching.
“I was first introduced to short track 24 years ago. From that day on, the sport became an integral part of my life. Since 2009, I have had the honor of representing Kazakhstan as a member of the national team.
Over these years, I became Kazakhstan champion at every distance. After winning the country’s first-ever World Cup gold medal, I went on to reach the podium many times at international competitions. I was fortunate to compete at four Olympic Games and carry Kazakhstan’s flag into the Olympic arena twice. For me, that was the greatest honor.
Sport taught me not only how to compete, but also character, discipline, patience and responsibility to my country. Throughout this journey, I did everything I could to uphold Kazakhstan’s honor at every competition. This year, I decided to end my career as a professional athlete. Every athlete eventually reaches a new milestone,” Abzal said.
However, he said he does not intend to step away from the sport he loves. Azhgaliyev is set to become a coach in the near future.
“My next goal is to use the experience and knowledge I have gained over these years to help develop Kazakh sport. I consider it my civic and personal duty to remain involved with the national team, guide young athletes and work for the future of short track in Kazakhstan. The most important thing for me is for the next generation to reach even greater heights,” the athlete said.
Azhgaliyev was part of the relay team that won Kazakhstan’s first-ever Asian Games gold medal in short track.
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Post by Abzal Azhgaliyev (@abzal_azhgaliyev)
Abzal Azhgaliyev: Asian Games champion who was not afraid to speak about problems
Although short track is largely an individual sport, Azhgaliyev has always been a true team player. He has won Asian Games medals of every color, and each of them — including his 2025 gold — came in relay events.
At the same time, in 2016 he won gold in the individual 500-meter event at a World Cup stage in the United States.
Azhgaliyev also came close to winning an Olympic medal. At the 2022 Beijing Games, he reached the 500-meter final but finished fourth.
After returning from the Games, Azhgaliyev published a widely discussed post about problems with the national team’s preparation and later gave an extensive interview in which he explained his concerns in more detail.
“In other countries, the national team chooses its training time and sets its own schedule, and everyone else adjusts around them. Because it is the national team. Here, the national team has to adjust to others. Whoever pays more gets more time. The ice rink is privately owned and has to make money. Those who pay get more time. We don’t even have our own locker room,” the athlete said.
Some people around him feared that speaking openly about the problems could end his career.
I had been preparing for a long time to express what I thought. I’m saying openly that I wrote it myself. There was a lot of attention on me at the time, and I wanted to use that attention properly. I could help many children and the younger generation. Our main problem right now is the ice arena. After I published the post, some people told me: ‘Delete it, this will end your career,’” he said.
At the final Olympics of his career, Azhgaliyev failed to reach the semifinals in his individual event, but he drew worldwide attention with an unusual winning finish in qualification.
In total, Azhgaliyev competed at four Olympic Games, serving as Kazakhstan’s flag bearer at two of them, and won numerous medals at Short Track World Cup stages.
What lifts the champion’s mood
Before Abzal left for his final Olympic Games, a Tengri Sport correspondent attended a training session of Kazakhstan’s national short track team.
As the athletes prepared to take to the ice, one colorful detail stood out: Azhgaliyev was wearing patterned socks under his skates — something that seemed at odds with the image of such a serious athlete. Abzal explained that socks like these help lift his mood.
“I like something with a pattern or some kind of writing on it. I look at it, it lifts my mood, I put on my skates and go. Then I take my skates off, look again, and there might be a picture or words like ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger,’ or just some cartoon design. I see it, I like it, and somehow it cheers me up. Sometimes I wear themed socks too. I just like them,” the athlete said at the time.
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Post by Anton Bova (@spor_tjob)