Sports, us and the Olympics: Azerbaijani athletes set up to Olympics - ANALYSIS

There are 21 days left before the start of the Paris-2024 Summer Olympic Games, which will be held on July 26.

Idman.biz continues the series of articles dedicated to the most prestigious multi-sport competition of the quadrennial, which will start on Friday after 3 weeks.

First, we remembered the summer Olympics in which Azerbaijani athletes participated in the years of independence until Paris-2024. Next, we reviewed our team's collection of awards, participation, and also looked at the list of several medal winners.

This time, let's get to know the qualified athletes experienced this excitement many times. There are enough of our athletes living in Olympus.

Firsts in Sydney

To date, 47 Azerbaijani athletes have participated in the Olympics more than once. 2 of them participated in four, 11 three, and 34 twice in the most prestigious multi-sport competition of the quadrennial. The first Azerbaijanis who experienced Olympic excitement again were those who went to conquer Sydney-2000. Seven participants of Atlanta-1996 represented our country again four years later. Four of them were freestyle wrestlers: Namig Abdullayev, Arif Abdullayev, Elshad Allahverdiyev, Davud Mahammadov. Jumper Emin Jabrayilov, judoka Zulfiya Huseynova and shooter Irada Ashumova were among the fastest to reach "2".

From Atlanta to Athens

Our first athletes who participated in three Olympics achieved this in Athens. The Azerbaijani representatives who participated in Atlanta-1996 and Sydney-2000 went to Zeus’s homeland in 2004. Shooter Irada Ashumova, freestyle wrestlers Namig and Arif Abdullayevs participated in our first three Olympics. But in Athens, Arif Abdullayev could not go on the mat because he was sick.

Architect of the first

A longer time was needed to wait for the four-time participant of the Olympics. This happened in London-2012. Irada Ashumova went to conquer Olympus for the 4th time in her career. The shot putter, who missed the Beijing 2008, performed in London after Atlanta, Sydney and Athens. The sniper, who was among the first athletes to reach both "2" and "3", set a new record by stepping in front of the target again 16 years after his Olympic debut.

Phenomenon

Ashumova's record in Beijing 2012 was repeated after 9 years. For Maria Stadnik, Tokyo-2020 was the 4th Olympics in a row. Unlike our sniper, our wrestler won medals in all her attempts. Stadnik, who participated in Beijing-2008, London-2012, Rio-2016 and Tokyo-2020, has already won a license for Paris. Like Ashumova, she will again participate in the multisport event 16 years after her Olympic debut. But for Stadnik, it will be not the 4th, but the 5th Olympics. Our wrestler will sign a new - phenomenal indicator in the history of Azerbaijani sports. 5 Olympics in a row means 17 years of being in top form, such an achievement in martial arts is not for everyone.

Comeback

We mentioned that Ashumova again participated in the multi-sport event after missing one Olympics. But our shooter is not the only representative participating in the competition with a break. Like her, Asif Malikov faced the same situation. A weightlifter who participated in Atlanta-1996 tried his hand at Athens-2004 8 years later.

Top-11 and those who joined them

Stadnik and Ashumova, who participated in four Olympics each, are currently Azerbaijan's record holders, and our wrestler will take the joint leadership in Paris. We have 11 athletes following them, each of whom has competed for Olympus three times. Shooter Zemfira Meftahaddinova, judokas Rustam Orujov, Mehman Azizov, weightlifters Turan Mirzayev, Nizami Pashayev, Greco-Roman wrestler Rovshan Bayramov, freestyle wrestlers Khetag Gazyumov, Sharif Sharifov, Arif Abdullayev, Namig Abdullayev and taekwondo player Farida Azizova experienced Olympic excitement three times. Three of them - Farida, Rustam and Sharif reached "3" just 3 years ago at Tokyo-2020. But our representatives who have finished their careers will not be able to participate in Paris.

Instead, the French capital will become a "hat trick" for three athletes. Freestyle wrestler Haji Aliyev, judoka Ushangi Kokauri and shot putter Ruslan Lunyov will go to the 3rd Olympics.

In 15 species

If we look at the types represented by our 47 athletes who participated in at least two Olympics, wrestlers are ahead of all. In total, 13 wrestlers participated in the multi-sport event several times. 10 of them are freestyle wrestlers, 2 are Greco-Roman wrestlers, and 1 is a female wrestler. Our 9 judokas, 7 boxers and 5 weightlifters experienced this excitement several times. Those who have seen two or more Olympics represent a total of 15 species. 3 of our athletes achieved this in Taekwondo, 2 in athletics and shooting, one in rowing, canoe sprint, fencing, stand shooting, diving and swimming.

Vugar Kheyrullayev
Idman.biz