Kazakhstan Increases Athlete Participation for Winter Olympics

Kazakhstan is set to increase its presence at the upcoming Winter Olympics with 36 athletes already qualified. This marks a successful outcome, surpassing the initial target of 35 licenses. The XXV Winter Olympic Games will occur in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, from February 6 to 22, 2026.

Kazakhstan’s Athlete Participation

More than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries will compete for 116 sets of medals across 16 sports. Qualification for all events concluded on January 20, 2026, allowing Kazakhstan to finalize its team.

Breakdown of Licensing and Athletes

• Total Qualified Athletes: 36
• Initial Target: 35 Olympic licenses
• Named Licenses: 18 across five sports

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports reports that half of the licenses are assigned to specific athletes, with the rest being flexible slots. The final selection for these non-named spots will be made by national team coaches.

Confirmed Athletes by Sport

• Figure Skating:
  • Mikhail Shaydorov (Men’s singles)
  • Sofya Samodelkina (Women’s singles)
• Alpine Skiing:
  • Rostislav Khokhlov
  • Alexandra Skorokhodova
• Short Track Speed Skating:
  • Abzal Azhgaliyev
  • Denis Nikisha
  • Olga Tikhonova
  • Yana Khan
• Freestyle Aerials:
  • Dinmukhammed Raimkulov
  • Sherzod Khashirbaev
  • Roman Ivanov
  • Asan Asylkhan
  • Ayana Zholdas
• Speed Skating:
  • Evgeny Koshkin
  • Kristina Silaeva
  • Elizaveta Golubeva
  • Nadezhda Morozova
  • Arina Ilyashchenko

Non-Named Spots and Additional Information

In addition to the confirmed athletes, Kazakhstan will have participants in the following disciplines:

• Freestyle Moguls: 4 athletes
• Biathlon: 2 men, 2 women
• Nordic Combined: 1 athlete
• Ski Jumping: 2 athletes
• Cross-Country Skiing: 3 men, 4 women

The Ministry has indicated that the figures reflect the licensing results from the 2025-2026 Olympic season, and there is potential for further quota allocations by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Final details on Olympic licenses will be confirmed by the end of January 2026.

Previously, Kazakh athletes displayed strong performance, finishing fourth at the 2025 Asian Winter Games. This success sets a positive tone ahead of the Winter Olympics.