ALMATY, Kazakhstan — Uzbekistan opened the 2024 Paris Olympics with its first female gold medalist and ended with its boxers winning more gold medals than any national boxing team since Cuba two decades ago.
But for Central Asian Olympic spectators, the Games were as much about celebrating the revival of a spirit of cross-border friendship as it was about podium finishes.
“We saw incredible unity among Central Asians during the 2024 Olympics,” Vermet Tursunkulova, who served as deputy minister of education from 2014 to 2015, said in an August 11 Facebook post.
“I don't think we've ever seen anything like this before.”
Tursunkulova's post, which is currently a hot topic, includes photos of fans in Paris standing with the flags of five Central Asian countries, Uzbeks cheering on Kyrgyzstan's silver medal-winning boxer Munarbek Saytbek-Uul by shouting “Kyrgyzstan,” and Saytbek-Uul embracing his opponent Abdumalik Kharokov after his win.
There was a lot of back story behind the gold medal battle between these two on August 10th, a day when both countries achieved the highest medal totals in Olympic history.
Conflict turns into cooperation
First, geopolitical integration has taken place.
Eight years ago, just after the Rio Olympics, relations between Tashkent and Bishkek were at their lowest point.
Instead of photos of Uzbek and Kyrgyz fans sharing heartwarming moments at the Olympics, images of the disputed mountain on the Uzbek-Kyrgyzstan border filled internet space during a second standoff between the two countries' militaries in 2016.
Uzbekistan's gold medalist Diyora Kerdiyorova celebrates on the podium after winning the 52 kg judo competition.
But less than a week after the Rio Olympics ended, Uzbekistan's longtime authoritarian President Islam Karimov was hospitalized after suffering a stroke and eventually died.
Although Uzbek authorities waited almost a week to inform the world that he was in “critical condition,” he was likely already in a coma as early as August 27.
The timing fueled unconfirmed but widely believed rumors that the strongman was over-celebrating his country's success at the Rio Olympics, where Tashkent established itself as the new superpower in amateur men's boxing.
But more important than the cause of Karimov's death is the fact that his successor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, came to power and immediately sparked an improvement in Uzbekistan's frosty relations with Central Asia.
This development is also having a ripple effect in the world of sport, as evidenced by the first Olympics with spectators attending since 2016.
And the solidarity extended beyond the stands.
Seytbek-Uul made history by becoming the first Kyrgyzstan to compete for an Olympic gold medal in boxing.
But Saytbek-Uul was able to reach the final thanks to the support of Uzbekistan boxing team coach Akmal Hasanov, who worked as one of Saytbek-Uul's coaches in the knockout rounds leading up to the final, as his personal coach was, for some reason, not included in Kyrgyzstan's Olympic team.
Uzbek boxing coach Akmal Hasanov (right) and Kyrgyzstan boxer Munarbek Seytbek-Uul (centre).
Apparently, to avoid any conflict of interest, Hasanov did not cooperate with Seytbek-Uul in the final.
However, Uzbek trainers wished Seytbek-Uul good luck for the final and presented him with a traditional Uzbek robe and hat.
“Munarbek, I am proud that you have reached the finals. I am happy that the people of Kyrgyzstan have shown you such a result. May the strongest man win!” Hasanov told him.
Cheered on at a bar in Tajikistan
The friendlier Uzbekistan's performance in these competitions – eight gold medals, two silver and three bronze medals – was praised and celebrated by other Central Asian countries.
A correspondent for RFE/RL's Tajik-language service reported that Uzbek boxers were being cheered on at a sports bar in the country's capital, Dushanbe.
Additionally, the men's boxing final on August 9-10 was made even more emotional when the team's legendary head coach, Turkin Kirichev, appeared to suffer a heart attack shortly after winning its first-ever gold medal in boxing on August 8.
Kirichev, who was instrumental in Uzbekistan's rise to prominence in Olympic boxing, was treated by a doctor from the British boxing team and is believed to be recovering in hospital in Paris after the incident.
Fans from Central Asia raise their flags together at the Paris Olympics.
The Russian boxing team's super heavyweight star, Bakhodyr Yarolov, described Kirichev as “more than a coach or a father” as he dedicated the second Olympic gold medal of his career to his mentor.
Even though Kazakhstan lost steam in the competition after winning the gold medal in judo on the first day, many online critics praised Uzbekistan's success.
But it was accompanied by some introspection after Kazakh officials claimed to have spent around $660 million on the sport in 2023 – more than three times what neighbouring Uzbekistan spent.
In past Olympic Games, such generous donations have contributed to Astana's impressive medal haul.
But in Paris they could only win one gold, three silver and three bronze medals, placing Kazakhstan 43rd in the medal rankings, 30 places below Uzbekistan and 21 places below Astana's best result in Sydney in 2002.
Kyrgyzstan won two silver and four bronze medals, but they cannot be accused of spending too much to get there.
Alisher Yusupov of Uzbekistan (right) and Temur Rahimov of Tajikistan celebrate winning the bronze medal in the over 100 kg judo event on August 2.
Uzur Zhuzpbekov, a Greco-Roman wrestler who won a bronze medal in Paris, caused a stir when he told reporters that the Kyrgyz Olympic team did not have a nutritionist or psychologist on its staff.
Video footage of Seytbek-Uul's personal trainer congratulating his protégé on his success from the dormitory in southern Kyrgyzstan where Seytbek-Uul lives with his family also sparked criticism, given that Kyrgyz officials were able to watch the tournament.
Meanwhile, athletes from neighboring Tajikistan won three bronze medals, two in judo and one in boxing, more than the country won in the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Olympics combined.
The ultra-authoritarian state of Turkmenistan has never won anything, breaking with this long-standing tradition only in Tokyo when weightlifter Polina Guryeva won a silver medal.
Following this latest gaffe, President Serdar Berdymukhamedov gave the head of the sports committee, Alaverdiy Saparov, a “stern warning” for “improper performance of duties and professional deficiencies,” state media reported on August 8.
