Akhmed Anarbayev

Kyrgyz swimmer Akhmed Anarbayev won medals at both the Soviet and European championships, competed at the Olympics, and later worked as a coach. Born in Kara-Balta Anarbayev studied at the Kyrgyz State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports. From 1968 to 1970 he was part of the Soviet swimming team, competing at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and the 1970 European swimming championships in Barcelona. Anarbayev finished in third place in his heat in the 400 metres freestyle at the Olympics, but did not progress to the final. At the European championships he won silver as part of the relay quartet in the 4×200 metres freestyle.

Following his retirement from competitive swimming Anarbayev swam at international events in the masters category. He was also an accomplished open water swimmer, becoming the first person to swim across the Issyk-Kul lake in Eastern Kyrgyzstan. Anarbayev later took part in a swim in the Bering Strait, crossing the border between Russia and the United States between the two Diomede Islands.

From 1978 to 1985 Anarbayev was the state swimming coach for the USSR Sports Committee, and from 1992 to 1997 he was the President of the Kyrgyz Swimming Federation. He later worked in the hotel trade.