Akhnazar Mutalipov

Akhnazar Mutalipov is a 27-year-old para swimmer from Astana, Kazakhstan, who made headlines after successfully swimming 20 kilometers across Lake Balhash, despite losing an arm and a leg in a tragic train accident at work in 2018. After the accident, which resulted in the death of a close friend and severe injuries for Mutalipov, he sought new avenues in sports, ultimately discovering his passion for swimming. He has since become a champion in Kazakhstan's para swimming category and aims to compete in the Paralympics, breaking records along the way, including a previous record for crossing Lake Burabay.