Alzhan Zharmukhamedov


Alzhan Musurbekuly Zharmukhamedov is a retired Kazakh professional basketball player and coach. He was considered to be the first ethnic Kazakh to become an Olympic champion.

Playing career

Zharmukhamedov played club with CSKA Moscow. 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

While being young and driven with feelings of patriotism, Zharmukhamedov moved to Almaty, 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

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

Personal

Zharmukhamedov currently lives in Moscow.

Awards and accomplishments

Club career