Nijat RahimovKazakhstan weightlifter
Date of Birth: 13.08.1993
Country: Kazakhstan |
Content:
- Nihat Rahimov: A Journey from Baku to Kazakhstan
- Conflict and Departure from Azerbaijan
- Citizenship and Debut for Kazakhstan
- World and Olympic Victories
Nihat Rahimov: A Journey from Baku to Kazakhstan
Early Life and Career in AzerbaijanNihat Rahimov, born Nihat Rahimov on 13th August 1993 in Baku, Azerbaijan, began his weightlifting journey as an ethnic Azerbaijani. His talent was evident early on, with a remarkable victory at the 2010 European Youth Championships in Valencia, where he lifted 290kg. His crowning achievement during this period was his gold medal triumph at the inaugural Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.
Conflict and Departure from Azerbaijan
In 2013, Rahimov's promising career in Azerbaijan took a sour turn. A doping scandal involving 18 Azerbaijani weightlifters, including Rahimov, led to their disqualification. Amidst allegations of favoritism and poor training conditions, Rahimov's father, Ali Rahimov, openly criticized the Azerbaijani Weightlifting Federation. This conflict culminated in Rahimov's decision to leave the national team in 2014.
Citizenship and Debut for Kazakhstan
Seeking a fresh start, Nihat Rahimov accepted Kazakhstani citizenship in August 2014 and adopted the name Nihat Rahimov. His decision stemmed from concerns about indiscipline within the Azerbaijani team. Rahimov's successful debut for Kazakhstan came at the 2015 Chinese Grand Prix, where he finished fourth in the 85kg weight class.
World and Olympic Victories
In 2015, Rahimov reached a pinnacle in his career by winning the World Championships in Houston as a member of the Kazakhstani team. He excelled in both clean and jerk and total lifts. His triumphant moment arrived at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he set a world record in clean and jerk (214kg) and claimed the gold medal. To celebrate his victory, Rahimov performed a traditional Lezginka dance, a symbol of his heritage.
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