Kazakhstani weightlifter

Bakhyt Beshimbekovich Akhmetov (Kazakh: Бахыт Бешимбекович Ахметов, Bahyt Beşimbekovich Ahmetov; born March 27, 1979 in Shymkent) is a Kazakhstani weightlifter. He is a three-time Olympian and a two-time medalist for the 94 and 105:kg cl*es at the Asian Games.

Formerly a member of the Kyrgyzstan team, Akhmetov made his official debut for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where he hauled 367.5 kilograms in total for a fifteenth-place finish in the men's middle heavyweight cl* (94:kg). In 2002, Akhmetov achieved his early success by capturing the gold medal in the same category at the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.

Akhmetov was also considered a top medal contender, when he competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, representing his birth nation. He lifted a total of 390:kg in the men's 94 kg cl*, finishing only in seventh place by five kilograms short of the clean and jerk record from Turkey's Hakan Yılmaz.

At the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, Akhmetov switched to a heavier cl* by competing in the men's 105:kg cl*, where he claimed the bronze medal, with a total of 388:kg.

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Bakhmetov competed this time for the men's heavyweight cl* (105:kg), against several top-cl* weightlifters, including world record holders Marcin Dołęga of Poland Andrei Aramnau of Belarus. During the compe*ion, he successfully lifted 190:kg in the single-motion snatch, and hoisted 225:kg in the two-part, shoulder-to-overhead clean and jerk, for a total of 415:kg. Bakhmetov finished the event in fifth place by five kilograms short of Dołęga's overall record (420:kg). For being the most experienced member, Bakhmetov also became Kazakhstan's flag bearer in the opening ceremony.

References

External links

• NBC 2008 Olympics profile