Yeldos Smetov

Yeldos Smetov has written his name into the history of Kazakh sport. In Paris 2024 he finally captured the Olympic gold medal at under 60kg, completing one of the most remarkable Olympic journeys in judo.

By the time he reached Paris, Smetov had already experienced the full spectrum of Olympic emotions. He won silver at the Rio 2016 Games and added bronze at Tokyo 2020. That meant Paris was his third Olympic medal and the one he had chased for years. At 31 years old he delivered the performance of his life and became Olympic champion.

Smetov had already proven himself on the world stage long before that moment. In 2015 he became world champion in front of a home crowd in Astana, a victory that made him a national hero. He later added World Championship bronze medals in Tokyo in 2019 and Tashkent in 2022, confirming his place among the most consistent lightweights of his generation.

His success story actually began as a junior. In 2010 he won the world junior title in Agadir, an early sign that Kazakhstan had discovered a special talent.

Across more than a decade at the top level, Smetov built a reputation for speed, tactical awareness and fighting spirit. His Olympic gold in Paris was also historic for his country, marking the first Olympic judo title for Kazakhstan.

For Kazakh judo fans, Smetov is more than a champion. He is a symbol of persistence, proving that patience and experience can eventually lead to the biggest prize in the sport.

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