Uzbekistan's Coach Saved After Heart Attack, Team Wins Gold
- Uzbekistan's head boxing coach suffered a heart attack after celebrating his team's first gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
- Two members of Britain's training staff quickly revived him, demonstrating sportsmanship and solidarity.
- This incident highlights the intense emotions and stakes involved in Olympic competition.
PARIS (AP) — Uzbekistan's head boxing coach, Tulkin Kilichev, experienced a cardiac arrest celebration after his team secured their first gold medal at the Paris Olympics. The incident occurred on Thursday, but thanks to the quick actions of two British training staff members who performed CPR and used a defibrillator, Kilichev was revived and is now recovering in a Paris hospital. His fighters, who went on to win a total of five gold medals, expressed their deep admiration for Kilichev, with super heavyweight champion Bakhodir Jalolov stating, “He is more than a coach or a father.” The Uzbek boxing team’s remarkable performance at the Olympics marks their best showing in two decades, echoing the success of Cuba's five golds at the 2004 Athens Games. Jalolov, who secured his second gold medal, emphasized the emotional significance of their achievements, stating, “This is history for Uzbekistan.” The team’s success was particularly poignant as they won the final five men’s gold medal bouts at Roland Garros, starting with the victory of Hasanboy Dusmatov. Lazizbek Mullojonov also claimed the heavyweight title, joining the ranks of legendary boxers in that category. The team’s resurgence follows a disappointing performance in Tokyo, where they only managed one gold. With a mix of experienced champions and promising young talent, Uzbekistan is poised to solidify its status as a boxing powerhouse on the international stage.