One of them is 16-year-old Maxim Konyukhov, who, while practicing alpine skiing, has brought numerous medals to the city's collection in competitions.
He was born on June 17, 2010, in the city of Karakol. In 2016, he entered the preparatory class of school No. 6 named after Anton Chekhov. However, in the second grade, due to the transition to studying in the second shift, Maxim had to transfer to the school named after Baisara Uulu Kydyr Ake, where he still studies — he is currently a 9th-grade student.
Maxim grew up in a large and close-knit family of seven. His mother is Elena Vladimirovna, his father is Nikita Ivanovich, he has an older brother Denis, a younger sister, and two younger brothers. His older brother is a candidate for master of sports in alpine skiing, a participant in international competitions in Kazakhstan, South Korea, and China, as well as a participant in the Winter Games "Children of Asia," which took place in Russia. The example of his older brother has been his main guide since early childhood.
“It all started in 2014 when I was 4 years old. I came with my mom to watch my brother's training. The coach suggested I give it a try. By 2015, at the age of 5, I first got on skis, and I immediately liked it,” Konyukhov began his story.
In 2015, at the age of five, he took his first steps in alpine skiing and immediately realized that this was his element.
“This sport combines speed, technique, adrenaline, and character. It requires complete dedication, and that’s what hooked me,” the athlete shares.
His main support at the beginning of his journey were his parents and older brother. Later, the support of coaches and teammates was added to them.
The first competitions took place in 2017. Maxim recalls feeling both fear and admiration for the older athletes.
“They took place in 2017. I remember the fear and admiration for the older athletes. I fell on the course but still got up and made it to the finish line. I took first place. That’s when I realized I wanted to keep going,” he said.
Today, Konyukhov trains five days a week: for the past two years, three days in the gym and three days on the mountain. According to him, the most challenging aspect of preparing a skier is not only the physical load but also psychological resilience.
“Sometimes the mental strain can be even harder than physical training,” he admits.
There were also difficult periods. For about two years, the athlete regularly placed fourth and began to doubt himself, fearing difficult courses. But perseverance and hard work helped him overcome this stage — the results gradually returned.
To date, Maxim's achievements include:
* 12 first places
* 7 second places
* 6 third places.
“I am most proud of my two first places in competitions in Kazakhstan, as the competitors were very strong. It was a different country, a different course. But I managed to show myself and meet the expectations of my loved ones, especially my family,” the skier recounts.
He does not have a sports idol, but he admires the skiing technique of the Swiss alpine skier.
“I admire the skiing technique of Marco Odermatt — one of the strongest alpine skiers of our time. He is characterized by incredible stability, powerful technique, and the ability to perform confidently in different disciplines — from giant slalom to speed events,” said the Kyrgyzstani.
The brightest memories for Maxim remain the away competitions with the old team: the journey, joint training, the atmosphere of support, and the competitions themselves. It was during this time that he felt the true spirit of sport and finally understood how much he loves alpine skiing.
In the coming years, the athlete has set a serious goal for himself — to give his all and make it to the national team of Kyrgyzstan.
“To represent my country at international competitions under its flag. To feel pride at the moment of starting when the name of my homeland is announced and to understand that behind me are my coaches, family, and all of Kyrgyzstan. For me, this is not just a goal, but a great responsibility and honor — to defend the sporting honor of my homeland with dignity,” he shared.
Despite his young age, Maxim already knows for sure that there are no accidental victories in sports. Behind every result are years of hard training, overcoming doubts, and believing in oneself.
Addressing those who are just taking their first steps in alpine skiing, he shares a simple but important piece of advice: “If you want to pursue this sport professionally, don’t be afraid and live it fully. Only then will the results come.”
