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Elmar GasimovAzerbaijani judoka
Date of Birth: 02.11.1990
Country:  Azerbaijan |
Content:
- Early Life and Career Beginnings
- First Major Success: 2009 European Youth Championship
- Career Challenges and Revival
- Olympic Silver and International Erfolge
- Style and Technique
- Family and Personal Life
- Achievements
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Elmar Gasimov, an Azerbaijani judoka, was born on November 2, 1990, in the settlement of Khirdalan. At the age of 7, his father introduced him to judo, and from the age of 10, he trained under the guidance of Farhad Mammadov. Gasimov became a member of the "Attila" club and began participating in youth tournaments.
In March 2008, he won the Azerbaijani Championship among athletes under 20 years old in Sumgait. That same year, he became the Azerbaijani adult champion by defeating Elkhan Mammadov in the final.
First Major Success: 2009 European Youth Championship
In September 2009, Gasimov achieved his first major success by winning the gold medal at the European Youth Championship in Yerevan, Armenia. This was the first time Azerbaijani athletes had competed in Armenia due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. President Ilham Aliyev personally approved their participation.
Gasimov defeated Lukas Krpalek of the Czech Republic in the final, dedicating his victory to "the souls of the martyrs who died in Karabakh." His performance earned him a 50,000 manat award from the President of Azerbaijan.
Career Challenges and Revival
In the early 2010s, Gasimov experienced a career lull. He attributed this to a lack of training and an injury that kept him sidelined for a month. In 2012, he won a bronze medal at the European Championship in Chelyabinsk, guaranteeing his participation at the London Olympics. At the Games, he finished 7th.
In 2013, Gasimov became the Azerbaijani champion for the second time. He continued to struggle in 2014, but regained form in the second half of the year, winning the "Grand Slam" tournament in Tyumen.
Olympic Silver and International Erfolge
In 2015, Gasimov won the "World Masters" tournament in Rabat and became the flag bearer for Azerbaijan at the inaugural European Games in Baku. In 2016, he was ranked number one in the world by the International Judo Federation.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Gasimov won a silver medal in the 100 kg weight category. He lost the final to Lukas Krpalek, whom he had defeated in previous encounters.
In 2017, Gasimov won a bronze medal at the World Championships in Budapest, his first medal at the world level. He also won a bronze medal at the 2019 European Games in Minsk.
Style and Technique
Olympic champion Tagir Khaybulaev described Gasimov's signature move as the "bull" throw, which he used effectively at the 2016 Olympics. Gasimov also possesses a "good grip" and a calm fighting style that can lull opponents into a sense of security.
He attributes his success to his height, which he uses to his advantage in combat. His favorite technique is the "Ippon Seoinage."
Family and Personal Life
Gasimov's father was a track and field athlete, and his mother was a volleyball player. His brother and cousin are also involved in judo. Gasimov married in 2011 and has a son.
Achievements
Silver medalist at the 2016 Summer OlympicsBronze medalist at the 2017 World Championships
Bronze medalist at the 2019 European Games
Two-time "World Masters" champion (2015, 2016)
Two-time Grand Prix winner (2015 in Samsun and Tbilisi)
2014 "Grand Slam" tournament winner in Tyumen
2009 European Youth Champion
Order of "For Service to the Fatherland 3rd Degree" (2016)
