Alzhan Musurbekuly Zharmukhamedov (alternate spelling: Alzan Zarmuhamedov) (Kazakh: Әлжан Мүсірбекұлы Жармұхамедов,[2] Áljan Músirbekuly Jarmuhamedov; Russian: Алжан Мусурбекович Жармухамедов; 2 October 1944 – 3 December 2022) was a Kazakh professional basketball player and coach. He was considered to be the first ethnic Kazakh to become an Olympic champion.[1][3]

Alzhan Zharmukhamedov
Personal information
Born(1944-10-02)2 October 1944[1]
South Kazakhstan Region, Kazakh SSR, USSR
Died3 December 2022(2022-12-03) (aged 78)
NationalitySoviet and Kazakh
Listed height6 ft 9.5 in (2.07 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
Playing career1970–1980
PositionCenter
Career history
1970–1980CSKA Moscow
Career highlights and awards
As player:
Medals
Representing  Soviet Union
Men's Basketball
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1972 Munich
Bronze medal – third place 1976 Montreal
FIBA World Cup
Silver medal – second place 1978 Philippines
Bronze medal – third place 1970 Yugoslavia
EuroBasket
Gold medal – first place 1967 Finland
Gold medal – first place 1971 West Germany
Gold medal – first place 1979 Italy
Silver medal – second place 1975 Yugoslavia

Playing career edit

Jarmuhamedov played club basketball with CSKA Moscow (1970–1980). In 1971, he earned the title of Master of Sports of the USSR, International Class, and a year later, he was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor.

Soviet Union national team edit

While being young and driven by feelings of patriotism, Jarmuhamedov moved to Almaty (Alma-Ata at that time), in order to compete with the senior Kazakh SSR national basketball team. However, not being able to find any support, he finally decided to move to Moscow, where he was eventually able to earn world fame as a basketball player. He served as the team captain of the senior combined national basketball team of the Soviet Union for a long period. He won a gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games, while playing with the senior Soviet Union national basketball team.

Coaching career edit

At the tail end of his career, Jarmuhamedov worked as a player-coach, until he reached the age of 45.[1]

Personal life and death edit

Zharmukhamedov's father was Kazakh and his mother was Ukrainian of Zaporozhian Cossack descent.[4]

Zharmukhamedov lived in Moscow. He died on 3 December 2022, at the age of 78.[5] He was buried in the Federal Military Memorial Cemetery on 7 December.[6]

Awards and accomplishments edit

Club career edit

Soviet senior national team edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Demeu will help the talented". www.izvestia.kz. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  2. ^ "Тұңғыш Олимпиада чемпионы сыртта қала ма?" (in Kazakh (Kazakhstan)). Archived from the original on 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2018-01-28.
  3. ^ "Альжан ЖАРМУХАМЕДОВ: Желаю казахстанцам продвигать авторитет родины". www.liter.kz. Retrieved 27 May 2009.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Алжан Жармухамедов: Чемодан открыли и между вещами нашли пистолет" (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  5. ^ Умер олимпийский чемпион по баскетболу 1972 года Алжан Жармухамедов (in Russian)
  6. ^ "В Москве простились с олимпийским чемпионом по баскетболу Жармухамедовым" [The farewell in Moscow to the Olympic basketball champion Zharmukhamedov] (in Russian). RBK Group. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2023.

External links edit