Kazakhstan Wins Gold at Summer Olympics

Kazakhstan’s Yeldos Smetov dominated the first men’s judo competition of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 to take the gold medal over France’s Luka Mkheidze, who took the silver on 27 July at the Champ de Mars Arena.

Yeldos Smetov, the 31-year-old Kazakh judoka, made headlines by capturing the gold medal in the men’s 60kg category at the Olympic Games. This victory marked a significant milestone not only for Smetov but also for the entire Kazakh team, as it was their first gold medal after a drought at the Tokyo Olympic Games and the 15th in the nation’s Olympic history since 1996.

Smetov’s journey to gold is a testament to his perseverance and determination, especially after previously winning silver in Rio 2016 and bronze in 2021. He had expressed a desire to retire with an Olympic gold medal, a dream he visualized and ultimately achieved, cementing his status as a legend in the sport.