- Timur Shakirov — in alpine skiing;
- Artur Saparbekov — in cross-country skiing.
A Turmush correspondent spoke with Olesya Shakirova, Timur's mother, to learn about his journey to the Olympics.
Timur Olegovich Shakirov was born on June 20, 2006, in Karakol, Issyk-Kul region. In 2013, he enrolled in school-gymnasium No. 11 and successfully graduated in 2023, after which he continued his studies at the B.T. Turusbekov Academy of Physical Culture and Sports, where he is currently in his second year.
At the age of six, Timur began practicing alpine skiing at the Karakol City Sports School, and in 2014 he moved to the private club "Krokus." His first coach was I.N. Kezilov, and later he trained under I.V. Valkova.
“Timur was a very active child, and to channel his energy in the right direction, we enrolled him in alpine skiing. This is related to the fact that his father, Oleg Shakirov, also practiced this sport in his childhood. I am also an athlete — a master of sports in judo. Additionally, Timur's grandfather on my side, Grigory Nikolaevich Korotchenko, was a candidate for master of sports in athletics,” Olesya shared.
She noted that the path to the Olympics began back in his school years when Timur's persistence and determination helped him get closer to his dream.
“Balancing studies and training was not easy. In elementary school, his dad would pick him up by car after each training session, and Timur would change and eat in the car to make it to his classes. In high school, he took all the necessary equipment to school and went straight to training in the mountains after lessons,” recalls his mother.
In 2023, Timur qualified for the national team of Kyrgyzstan and became a member. “When he was invited to the skiing federation, he had just finished 9th grade. We gave him a choice: to dedicate himself to sports or continue his studies in another field. He chose sports, and we supported him. He has a leadership character and has never known how to lose since childhood,” Olesya added.
Since joining the Kyrgyzstan national team, Timur has participated in international competitions in Italy, Austria, Lithuania, and Korea (including three world championships and over 25 starts in FIS junior championships). In 2023, he earned a license for the Youth Olympic Games, which will take place in 2024 in South Korea.
In March 2024, Timur participated in the Asian Youth Championship in China, where he took second place in slalom and third in giant slalom, which allowed him to receive the title of "Master of Sports of the Kyrgyz Republic." In 2025, he also participated in the adult Asian Championship, finishing in fifth place, and received the title of "Master of Sports of International Class." A key achievement for Timur in 2025 was earning a license for the Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina (Italy) in the slalom and giant slalom categories.
Currently, Timur represents Kyrgyzstan at the 2026 Olympic Games. “When we learned that he qualified for the Olympics, I couldn't hold back my tears, as this is every athlete's dream, and he fulfilled my dream. Timur's dad has always believed in him,” his mother noted.
Timur plans to compete in the Olympics on February 14 and 16. It is worth noting that in 2025 he became the only holder of the title of master of sports of international class in skiing among men in Kyrgyzstan.
Reference:
Slalom is a type of competition where the athlete must navigate a course, maneuvering between set gates, with the goal of completing it in the shortest time without touching the gates.
Giant Slalom (GS) is a competition held on a longer and wider course with more widely spaced gates, requiring the athlete to maintain speed and stability on large turns.
