We are proud of our graduate Alexandr Gerlitz!

The Beijing Paralympics ended a fortnight ago. The competition is over, but emotions remain. They were shared with the students of Kozybayev University by Alexander Gerlitz, an eminent athlete, bronze medallist of the Winter Paralympic Games. He is a graduate of our university twice: in 2011, he graduated from the Faculty of Economics, and in 2018, he majored in Physical Education and Sport.

At first skiing, then volleyball, again skiing and biathlon - sport has been in Alexander's life since childhood. And his love for it is so great that no hardship in life is a hindrance. In 2015, our graduate won his first gold medal at the Republic of Kazakhstan Championships. The Paralympian has more than one well-deserved medal in his piggy bank. Behind each victory are years of hard training, sleepless nights, confidence in their abilities and the desire to be better.

"As I crossed the finish line, there was the first feeling of satisfaction from the work that had been done. Because you understand that it was not in vain. In professional sport you have to work hard, it took me seven years. There has been a lot of sweat, injuries, some hard moments, but I am proud that I passed all these exams. There is a special atmosphere at the awards ceremony. When the flag of Kazakhstan is raised, you feel good not only for yourself, but also for the team. Because it's a team effort, everyone made a big contribution to the victory. I'm very proud of my country," said Alexander Gerlitz.

The guys had a lot of questions for the athlete. Students were curious about the life in the Olympic village, what was the level of competition at the competitions, what motivated the medalist, etc. To the question of how Alexander would feel if he didn't win a medal, he replied: "The one who wins is not the strongest, but the one who goes to the end!