Today is the birthday of the legendary Kazakh wrestler and Olympic champion Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov. He was born on May 6, 1951, in the village of Dikhan, Sverdloy district (now Baizak district), Zhambyl region.

Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov is a name written in gold not only in the history of Kazakh wrestling but also in the broader history of national sports. In 1980, at the XXII Summer Olympic Games in Moscow, he won a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, becoming the first Olympic champion from Kazakhstan. His victory inspired the entire nation and brought global recognition to Kazakh sport even before the country’s independence.

To mark the occasion, here are some interesting facts about Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov that you might not know!