1. Early life and background
Elmira Syzdykova was born on 5 February 1992, in the North Kazakhstan Region of Kazakhstan. Her full name in her native languages is Эльмира Әнуарбекқызы СыздықоваElmira Änuarbekqyzy SyzdyqovaKazakh in Kazakh and Эльмира Ануарбековна СыздыковаElmira Anuarbekovna SyzdykovaRussian in Russian. She stands at 68 in (172 cm) tall and weighs 168 lb (76 kg), competing primarily in the heavier weight categories in freestyle wrestling.
2. Career
Elmira Syzdykova's wrestling career spans over a decade, marked by numerous achievements in junior, continental, and international competitions.
2.1. Junior career
Syzdykova began her international career early, competing in junior-level events. At the 2011 World Junior Wrestling Championships held in Bucharest, Romania, she earned a bronze medal in the 72 kg event, showcasing her potential on the global stage.
2.2. Major multi-sport events
Syzdykova has represented Kazakhstan in several major multi-sport events, achieving medal-winning performances at both the Olympic Games and the Asian Games.
2.2.1. Olympic Games
Syzdykova participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She competed in the women's 69 kg freestyle event, where she won a bronze medal. This marked one of the most significant achievements of her career.
2.2.2. Asian Games
At the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia, Syzdykova secured a bronze medal in the women's 76 kg freestyle event, further solidifying her reputation as a top Asian wrestler.
2.2.3. Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
Syzdykova also competed at the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. In this competition, she claimed a silver medal in the 69 kg category.
2.3. Continental Championships
Elmira Syzdykova has consistently medaled at the Asian Wrestling Championships, demonstrating her dominance within the continent across different weight classes.
She earned her first medal, a bronze, at the 2014 Asian Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, in the 69 kg category. The following year, she won a silver medal in the 69 kg event at the 2015 Asian Wrestling Championships in Doha, Qatar. In 2016, she continued her success with another silver medal at the 2016 Asian Wrestling Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, also in the 69 kg category.
Transitioning to the 76 kg category, Syzdykova secured a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. She repeated this achievement at the 2020 Asian Wrestling Championships in New Delhi, India, again winning bronze in the 76 kg event.
Her persistence paid off with gold medals in consecutive championships: at the 2021 Asian Wrestling Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, she won gold in the 76 kg event, and she successfully defended her title at the 2023 Asian Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, also in the 76 kg category. Most recently, she won a bronze medal at the 2024 Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in the 76 kg event.
2.4. Other international tournaments
Beyond major championships, Syzdykova has achieved notable results in various international ranking series and grand prix events.
In 2021, she won a bronze medal in the 76 kg event at the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series 2021 held in Rome, Italy. The following year, in 2022, she secured a gold medal in the women's 76 kg event at the Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin 2022 in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
Her success continued into 2023, where she won the gold medal in the women's 76 kg event at the Grand Prix de France Henri Deglane 2023 held in Nice, France. Later that year, she earned a bronze medal in her event at the 2023 Ibrahim Moustafa Tournament in Alexandria, Egypt. In 2024, she secured a silver medal at the 2024 Yasar Dogu Tournament in Antalya, Turkey, in the 76 kg event.
2.5. Recent career and Olympic qualification
In her recent competitive activities, Syzdykova continued to participate in high-level tournaments. After securing a bronze medal at the 2024 Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, she advanced to the 2024 World Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament held in Istanbul, Turkey. Despite her efforts, she was eliminated in her first match at this tournament and did not qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.