Alzhan Zharmukhamedov

Alzhan Musurbekuly Zharmukhamedov (alternate spelling: Alzan Zarmuhamedov) (Kazakh: Әлжан Мүсірбекұлы Жармұхамедов,^[2] Áljan Músirbekuly Jarmuhamedov; Russian: Алжан Мусурбекович Жармухамедов; 2 October 1944 – 3 December 2022) was a Kazakh professional basketball player and coach. He was considered to be the first ethnic Kazakh to become an Olympic champion.^[1][3]

Alzhan Zharmukhamedov

Personal information
Born	(1944-10-02)2 October 1944[1] South Kazakhstan Region, Kazakh SSR, USSR
Died	3 December 2022(2022-12-03) (aged 78)
Nationality	Soviet and Kazakh
Listed height	6 ft 9.5 in (2.07 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
Playing career	1967–1980
Position	Center
Career history
1967–1969	SKA Tashkent
1969–1980	CSKA Moscow
1981	Tashkent University
Career highlights
As player: EuroLeague champion (1971) FIBA European Selection (1972) 10× USSR League champion (1970–1974, 1976–1980) 2× USSR Cup winner (1972, 1973) Master of Sports of the USSR (1971) Order of the Badge of Honour (Soviet Union) (1972) Order of Honour (Russia) (2006)
Medals Representing  Soviet Union Men's basketball Olympic Games 1972 Munich 1976 Montreal FIBA World Cup 1978 Philippines EuroBasket 1967 Finland 1971 West Germany 1979 Italy 1975 Yugoslavia 1997 Belgium

Playing career

Jarmuhamedov played club basketball with CSKA Moscow (1970–1980). 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.

National team career

While being young and driven by feelings of patriotism, Jarmuhamedov moved to Almaty (Alma-Ata at that time), 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, Jarmuhamedov worked as a player-coach, until he reached the age of 45.^[1]

Personal life and death

Zharmukhamedov's father was Kazakh and his mother was Ukrainian of Zaporozhian Cossack descent.^[4]

Zharmukhamedov lived in Moscow. He died on 3 December 2022, at the age of 78.^[5] He was buried in the Federal Military Memorial Cemetery on 7 December.^[6]

Awards and accomplishments

Club career

• 10× USSR Premier League Champion: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
• FIBA European Champions Cup (EuroLeague) Champion: 1971
• 2× USSR Cup Winner: 1972, 1973
• FIBA European Selection: 1972

Soviet senior national team

• EuroBasket 1967:  Gold
• 1970 FIBA World Championship:  Bronze
• EuroBasket 1971:  Gold
• 1972 Summer Olympic Games:  Gold
• EuroBasket 1975:  Silver
• 1976 Summer Olympic Games:  Bronze:
• 1978 FIBA World Championship:  Silver
• EuroBasket 1979:  Gold