Bringing studies and sports together – such instructions were given to ENU students by Ilya Ilyin and Aidar Makhmetov

Within the framework of the Nauryznama-2024 decade, on the National Sports Day, the L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University hosted a meeting with famous athletes, legends of the Kazakhstani sports - 5-time world champion in MMA, jiu-jitsu and karate Aidar Makhmetov and Kazakh weightlifter, Olympic champion Ilya Ilyin. Students who are used to seeing the Olympiad heroes on the television screen have the opportunity to get to know them personally and ask them questions.

The stars of the Kazakhstani sports, holders of the highest titles and regalia in sports, talked with ENU students in coworking center in an informal atmosphere, told them about their path to professional sports, about their sports career, achievements, shared personal success stories and answered students' questions. During the conversation, Aidar Makhmetov and Ilya Ilyin talked with the student youth on various topics, including studies. The famous athletes instructed the students to study well and love sports, and be able to combine the both types of activities.

It is worth noting that the Honored Master of Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan in karate, master of sports of international class in karate, pankration, jiu-jitsu Aidar Makhmetov graduated with honors from the Faculty of Foreign Languages of the L. Gumilyov Eurasian National University in 1996, then completed his master's and doctoral studies at universities in Germany under the President's program "Bolashak". Today he is a Doctor of Political Sciences and a Master of Economics and can speak 4 languages.

As the athlete himself said, during his studies at university, he did not give up sports, continuing to compete at championships and winning victories. While studying in Germany, Aidar Makhmetov became one of the first Kazakhstani athletes to win the title of world champion in MMA.  Today, as an adviser to the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, he oversees the development of student sports.

"During my studies at ENU, I practiced sports every day, they can be perfectly combined, it all depends on one's desire. Anyone who wants to succeed in various fields should strive to set goals, objectives and be sure to achieve them. We need to keep up with everything," Aidar Makhmetov said.

Ilya Ilyin also spoke about the importance of obtaining knowledge and education during his conversation with students. According to him, he has been actively involved in sports since he was 16, his whole life has been spent in training and competitions. Now the renowned weightlifter, four-time world champion in three different weight categories, holder of four world records in two weight categories and twice won gold at the Olympic Games, is making up for lost time. In November 2016, Ilya Ilyin received the degree of Doctor of Sciences (PhD) in the specialty "Physical Culture and Sports" after completing his doctoral studies at the Kazakh Academy of Sports and Tourism at the Theoretical Foundations of Physical Culture and Sports Department. A year earlier, he defended his doctoral dissertation on the topic "Scientific and Methodological Justification for Training Highly Qualified Weightlifters." In the2022 fall, he launched the Ilya Ilyin Online Weightlifting Academy for professionals and amateurs according to his author's training program.

At the same time, the champion noted that it is impossible to live without sports in this life. You need to be fit all the time. The soul, mind and body should be in harmony, he believes. 

"I can't imagine my life without sports. This is my idea generator. I have never had to choose between studying and competing, because I entered sports from an early age and practiced daily to become a professional athlete. But studying is also important. I feel a certain complex that I did not study enough at the time. At 16, when I joined professional sports, I saw nothing but the gym and my room. Now I am 35 years old, and I am catching up and learning everything to this day and continue to gain knowledge, and I am very happy about it. I have an MBA defense in June. Next, I will go to the academy, study marketing and so on. But since you are here today and study at the university, you should pay great attention to your studies. Here, too, you can win medals and become champions. And after graduation, you will find a profession and work in your chosen specialty, and that's great," Ilya Ilyin said.

Summing up the meeting, ENU Vice-Rector for Strategic Development Duman Aitmagambetov noted that the university will be hosting similar meetings in the future.

"Today's meeting has been interesting and informative, our students had a lot of questions to ask of our heroes, which prompted the idea to hold such events more often. You both are certainly extraordinary personalities, and there is always great interest in you from the society. Therefore, I think, meetings should be held with each of you separately. You have something to say to our students, something to share. We are proud of each of you. Thank you for taking the time in your busy work schedule to communicate with our students," D.Aitmagambetov said.

At the end of the meeting, an autograph and selfie session with the Olympic champions took place.