Weightlifting: Ilya Ilyin will do PhD in Kazakh Academy of Sport and Tourism

Two-time Olympic champion Kazakhstan’s weight-lifter Ilya Ilyin is going to be enroll for a PhD course in Kazakh Academy of Sport and Tourism, Tengrinews.kz reports, citing Vesti.kz. According to Kairat Zakiryanov, President of the Academy, it won’t be easy for Ilya Ilyin to get enroll for PhD. However, judging by his ability to overcome difficulties, he will be able to successfully pass all the examinations. “21 candidates have already applied for this place, but in my opinion, nothing would hinder Ilyin from winning this competition. First of all he has to pass his English exam and then his professional exam. The list of PhD students will be publicized on August 20, and I think Ilyin will be on the list,” Zakiryanov said. President of Kazakh Academy’s of Sport and Tourism also said that they were planning to establish Weightlifting Academy for juniors and adults this autumn and to name it after Ilya Ilyin. Famous athletes Olga Shishigina (a retired Kazakh athlete, 2000 Olympic Games champion in 100 m hurdles), Vladimir Smirnov (former cross-country skier who raced from the mid-1980s until 1988 for the USSR and later for Kazakhstan), Nellie Kim (retired Soviet gymnast who won three gold medals and a silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics, and two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics), and Aleksey Ni, current Kazakhstan national weightlifting team coach graduated from Kazakh Academy of Sport and Tourism.