Maxim Rakov


Maxim Rakov is a Kazakhstani judoka.
Rakov won the 2009 World Championship in the men's half-heavyweight division, beating Henk Grol in the final. He won the silver medal at the 2011 World Championships, losing to Tagir Khaybulaev in the final.
Previously, he had competed in the middleweight category, winning a silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games. In 2007 he had a shoulder injury that required surgery. As a result, he missed the 2008 Olympics and considered to retire from sport. His father, who also served as his coach, encouraged him to continue. At the 2012 Games he was eliminated in the first bout. At the 2016 Rio Olympics he lost in the second bout to the eventual winner Lukáš Krpálek.