Aiza Imambek

Aiza Evfratkyzy Imambek or Mambekova (Kazakh: Айза Евфратқызы Имамбек,^[1][2]Aiza Evfratqyzy İmambek; born 25 February 1999) is a Kazakh figure skater. She is the 2019 Reykjavik International silver medalist, the 2018 FBMA Trophy bronze medalist, and a five-time Kazakhstani national silver medalist (2014–2018). She represented Kazakhstan at the 2018 Winter Olympics, placing 30th.

Aiza Imambek
Full name	Aiza Evfratkyzy Imambek
Native name	Айза Евфратқызы Имамбек
Other names	Mambekova
Born	(1999-02-25) 25 February 1999 (age 25) Almaty, Kazakhstan
Height	1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Figure skating career
Country	Kazakhstan
Coach	Kuralai Uzurova, Alexei Mishin
Skating club	Kiyal Almaty
Began skating	2003

Career

Early years

Imambek began learning to skate in 2003.^[3] Her first coach was Aigul Kuanysheva.^[4] She made her junior international debut in August 2012, at the Asian Figure Skating Trophy in Taipei, Taiwan.

During the 2014–2015 season, Imambek was coached by Galina Masliuk.^[4] Her first ISU Junior Grand Prix assignment took place in September 2014 in the Czech Republic. Her senior international debut came in December, at Estonia's Tallinn Trophy.

By the 2015–2016 season, Imambek was training under Kuralai Uzurova in Astana and Akbulak, Kazakhstan.^[5]

2016–2017 season

Imambek qualified to the final segment at the 2017 Winter Universiade, held in February in Almaty, Kazakhstan; she ranked 16th in the short program, 10th in the free skate, and 13th overall. Later that month, she placed 8th at the 2017 Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan.

In March, Imambek placed 31st in the short program at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Taipei, Taiwan. Due to Elizabet Tursynbayeva's result at the 2017 World Championships, Kazakhstan obtained two Olympic spots in ladies' figure skating. During the season, Imambek achieved the International Skating Union's minimum technical scores, making her eligible for one of the spots.

2017–2018 season

Imambek decided to train with Uzurova in Almaty and with Alexei Mishin in Saint Petersburg, Russia.^[3][6] She missed the first part of the season due to a fracture in her foot.^[7] In December 2017, she was nominated to represent Kazakhstan at the Olympics.^[8][9][10]

In January, Imambek won the bronze medal at the FBMA Trophy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and placed 20th at the 2018 Four Continents Championships in Taipei, Taiwan. In February, she will compete at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Programs

Season	Short program	Free skating
2019–2020	Corazón Espinado by Fher Olvera performed by Santana	Jumyr-Kylysh by Ulytau
2017–2019 [3]	Amanama by DJ Antoine, Timati Hourshaker radio edit	Ker Oglu by Daulet Kerei
2016–2017 [11]	Tango Amore by Edvin Marton	Ker Oglu by Daulet Kerei
2014–2016 [5][4]	Aqqu (The Swan) by Nurguissa	Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones performed by Apocalyptica

Competitive highlights

CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

International[12]
Event	12–13	13–14	14–15	15–16	16–17	17–18	18–19	19–20
Olympics						30th
Four Continents						20th		21st
CS Asian Open								10th
CS Golden Spin							24th	18th
CS Mordovian				8th
CS Ondrej Nepela								14th
CS Tallinn Trophy							20th
Asian Games					8th
Denis Ten Memorial								10th
FBMA Trophy					6th	3rd
MNNT Cup								12th
Reykjavik International							2nd
Tallinn Trophy			16th
Universiade					13th		17th
International: Junior[12]
Junior Worlds					31st
JGP Croatia			25th
JGP Czech Republic			22nd
JGP Estonia					10th
JGP France					8th
JGP Latvia				20th
JGP Poland				19th
Asian Trophy	11th
Coupe du Printemps		12th
Hamar Trophy			4th
Santa Claus Cup		15th		14th
Triglav Trophy		7th
National[12]
Kazakhstani Champ.	5th	1st	2nd	2nd	2nd	2nd	2nd
J = Junior level; TBD = Assigned

References

1. "Айза Имамбек: Менің атымды атақты жазушы Дулат аға қойыпты". stan.kz (in Kazakh). 15 February 2017.
2. Her name also appears in the Russian form Aiza Evfratovna Mambekova (Russian: Айза Евфратовна Мамбекова).
3. "Aiza MAMBEKOVA: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018.
4. "Aiza MAMBEKOVA: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015.
5. "Aiza MAMBEKOVA: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 28 May 2016.
6. "Айза Имамбек: Я сама себе являюсь главной соперницей". almatysports.kz (in Russian). 3 January 2018. Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
7. "Айза Имамбек получила перелома пальца ноги" [Aiza Imambek has fractured a toe]. prosports.kz (in Russian). 20 September 2017.
8. "Стало известно имя третьего участника Олимпиады в фигурном катании". National Skating Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 29 December 2017. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018.
9. Байкадамова, Динара (28 December 2017). "Айза Имамбек: "Для каждого спортсмена участие в Олимпиаде — наивысшая цель"". sports.kz (in Russian).
10. "Айза Имамбек —третья участница Олимпиады-2018 от Казахстана" [Aiza Imambek - third 2018 Olympic participant from Kazakhstan]. sport.inform.kz (in Russian). 29 December 2017.
11. "Aiza MAMBEKOVA: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017.
12. "Competition Results: Aiza MAMBEKOVA". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018.

External links

• Aiza Imambek at the International Skating Union
• Aiza Imambek at Instagram