Two skiers from Kyrgyzstan are participating in the competitions:
- Timur Shakirov — alpine skiing;
- Arthur Saparbekov — cross-country skiing.
Turmush correspondent spoke with Olesya Shakirova, Timur's mother, to learn about his journey to the Olympics.
Timur Olegovich Shakirov was born on June 20, 2006, in Karakol, Issyk-Kul region. In 2013, he began his education at Gymnasium No. 11, which he graduated from in 2023, after which he enrolled in the B.T. Turusbekov Academy of Physical Culture and Sports, where he is currently in his second year.
Since the age of six, Timur has been engaged in alpine skiing, starting his training at the Karakol City Sports School, and in 2014 he moved to the private club "Krokus".
Timur's first coach was I.N. Kezilov, and later he trained under I.V. Valkova.
“Timur has been very active since childhood, and to channel his energy in the right direction, we decided to enroll him in alpine skiing. His father, Oleg, practiced this sport in his youth, and I am also an athlete — a master of sports in judo. Additionally, Timur's grandfather on my side, Grigory Korotchenko, is a candidate for master of sports in athletics of the Kyrgyz SSR,” Olesya shared.
As his mother noted, the path to the Olympics began back in school years when Timur's perseverance and determination became the key to his success.
“Combining training with studies was very difficult. In the lower grades, his father always picked him up by car, and Timur would change clothes and eat sandwiches on the way to make it to his classes. In the upper grades, he took all his alpine skiing gear with him, had snacks during lunch, and immediately after classes, he would head off to training in the mountains,” Olesya recalls.
In 2023, Timur successfully passed the selection for the Kyrgyzstan national team and became a member.
“When he was invited to the skiing federation, he had just finished 9th grade. We offered him a choice: either fully dedicate himself to sports or continue his studies in another field. He chose sports, and we supported him. He has a leadership character; he has never known how to lose,” his mother added.
Since joining the national team, Timur has participated in several international competitions in Italy, Austria, Lithuania, and Korea (including three world championships and over 25 junior FIS starts).
In 2023, he received a license to participate in the Youth Olympic Games, which will take place in 2024 in South Korea.
In March 2024, Timur participated in the Youth Championship of Asia in China, where he won 2nd place in slalom and 3rd place in giant slalom, which allowed him to earn the title of "Master of Sports of the Kyrgyz Republic."
In 2025, he took 5th place at the adult Asian Championship and received the title of "Master of Sports of International Class."
Timur's main achievement in 2025 was obtaining a license for the Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina (Italy) in the slalom and giant slalom categories,” his mother noted.
Now Timur represents Kyrgyzstan at the 2026 Olympic Games.
“When I learned that he had qualified for the Olympics, I cried tears of joy because it is the dream of every athlete. He fulfilled my dream. Timur's father always believed that his son would make it,” Olesya shared her emotions.
Timur will compete on February 14 and 16.
It is important to note that Timur Shakirov is the only male athlete in Kyrgyzstan who holds the title of master of sports of international class in skiing.
Reference -
Slalom is a type of competition where the athlete navigates a course, passing through gates set up along the way, trying not to hit them.
Giant Slalom (GS) — the course is longer and wider, with gates set further apart. The turns are smoother, requiring speed and stability on wide turns, which implies a stronger acceleration than in regular slalom.
