Meeting with a famous athlete

Kozybayev University students met with the deputy of the regional maslikhat, international master of sports in athletics, participant of three Olympic Games Irina Ektova. “During the period of the Olympic Games in Beijing, we organized a meeting of our children with a famous athlete so that she would tell students about her path, which can become an example for young people,” said Akmaral Turgaleyeva, a member of the Board for educational work and social issues.

Irina Ektova is a graduate of our alma mater, Faculty of Physical Education. She admitted that her native FPhE played a serious role in the resumption of her sports career: “When it seemed that I could no longer perform, teachers at the university told me to go in for sports while I was studying, And I continued. It gave me a new rise in sports. After that, I got into the national team and represented our country at the Olympic Games 3 more times.”

The professional athlete also said that she has been involved in athletics for 24 years. It was interesting for the students to hear about the behind the scenes of big competitions, life in the Olympic Village, overcoming inevitable sports injuries, and developing willpower. The guys asked questions. One of which dealt with how an athlete feels when standing on a podium. “The feeling when you represent your Motherland at international competitions is indescribable. This is a feeling of pride for the country, patriotism, joy. And at the same time, memories of all the difficulties that had to go through. You are now in a golden age, when it is not too late to start anything, show yourself, reach any heights, ”shared Irina Ektova.