At the upcoming XXXIII Summer Olympic Games, which will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024 in Paris, Turkmenistan will be represented in swimming competitions. The national team included two athletes from Ashgabat: international master of sports Musa Zhalayev and master of sports Aynura Primova, the “Neutral Turkmenistan” newspaper reports.
Both swimmers are multiple national competition winners. At the recent championship of Turkmenistan, held at the Olympic Aquatics Complex in Ashgabat, athletes won several gold medals. Musa became the best in the 200 and 800 meter freestyle, as well as the 100 meter butterfly. Ainura won victories in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle, 100 and 200 meter backstroke.
Athletes are preparing for the Olympics under the guidance of the head coach of the national team, Dmitry Novikov. The team is currently at an international training camp in Georgia, which will last until July 10.
21 years old Musa Zhalayev, a student at the International Oil and Gas University, is the country's record holder in several disciplines. His best results: 800 meters freestyle – 9:19,15 (2021), 50 meters butterfly – 25,50 (2021), 100 meters freestyle – 51,63 (2023). At the Olympics, Musa will compete in the preliminary heats of the 100-meter freestyle.
17 years old Aynura Primova will become one of the youngest participants in the Olympic swimming competitions. At the 2023 World Junior Championships, she set three national records in the backstroke: 50m – 31,60, 100m – 1:07,67, 200m – 2:29,24. At the Olympics, Ainura will compete in the 100-meter backstroke.
