Daulet Bolatuly Turlykhanov (Kazakh: Дәулет Болатұлы Тұрлыханов, romanized: Däulet Bolatuly Turlyhanov; born 18 November 1963) is a Kazakh politician and former wrestler who is serving as member of the Mäjilis since 2023 and previously from 1996 to 2000. He is known for having competed in the 1988, 1992, and the 1996 Summer Olympics for men's freestyle wrestling.^[1]

Quick Facts Daulet Turlykhanov, Member of the Mäjilis ...

Daulet Turlykhanov
Дәулет Тұрлыханов
Turlyhanov in 2023
Member of the Mäjilis
Incumbent
Assumed office 29 March 2023
Preceded by	Constituency reestablished; Beken Älimjanov (2007)
Constituency	Astana, No. 1
In office 30 January 1996 – May 2000
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Tölen Toqtasynov
Constituency	North-East (1996–1999) South-West (1999–2000)
Member of the Supreme Council of Kazakhstan
In office 19 April 1994 – 11 March 1995
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Constituency	Ürjar
Personal details
Born	(1963-11-18) 18 November 1963 (age 60) Geogrievka, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Kazakh
Political party	AMANAT (2003–present)
Children	6
Parent(s)	Bolat Turlyhanov Märzia Turlyhanova
Alma mater	Kazakh Institute of Physical Culture
Sports career
Medal record Men's freestyle wrestling Representing the  Soviet Union Olympic Games 1988 Seoul welterweight Representing the  Unified Team 1992 Barcelona middleweight World Championships 1987 Clermont-Ferrand welterweight 1989 Martigny welterweight 1993 Stockholm middleweight

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Turlyhanov was born in the village of Geogrievka in Semey Region to the parents of Bolat Turlyhanov (1934–1993) and Märzia Turlyhanova (1940–2019). His father, Bolat, was a native of the city of Semey and a master of sports in Greco-Roman wrestling, who later became an Honored Coach of the Republic of Kazakhstan. His father's legacy lives on through an annual Greco-Roman wrestling tournament held in Semey as tribute since his death in 1994.^[2] Additionally, the Bolat Turlyhanov Cup has been held in Almaty since 2017.^[3] Furthermore, a street in the Semey bears his name, honoring his profound impact on Kazakh wrestling. Turlyhanov's mother, Marzia, was an esteemed figure as an Honored Teacher of the Kazakh SSR and an Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Education.^[4][5]

In 1989, Turlyhanov graduated from the Kazakh Institute of Physical Culture (now Kazakh Academy of Sports and Tourism) with a profession as a specialty physical education teacher-trainer. During the years 1995 to 1999, Turlyhanov pursued his legal education at the Kazakh State Academy of Sports and Tourism, specializing in law and obtaining a Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences.^[6] In 2004 and 2005, he furthered his academic journey at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, earning a degree in law. Subsequently, from 2006 to 2010, Turlykhanov attended Jetisu State University, where he obtained a degree in economics.^[6]

Turlyhanov's athletic skills were amplified by his connection to his father, Bolat, who was a renowned Kazakh wrestler and later became an Honored Coach of the Republic. As a sixth grader, Turlyhanov was sent to a sports boarding school in Alma-Ata by his father. Merkejan Qoşaev, Turlyhanov's first coach in Greco-Roman wrestling at the boarding school, trained him into the path of his future wrestling career. In 1981, Turlyhanov graduated from a boarding school and was drafted into the Soviet Army, but continued training as Alexander Lebedev continued coaching Turlyhanov where he learned various special tricks, specifically boxing counterattacks. From 1985, Daulet was coached by Gennady Sapunov.^[7]

In 1989, Turlyhanov became the World Champion in 1989 and earned the title of Vice-World Champion in 1993. In addition, he clinched the European Championship in 1988 and the Asian Championship in 1995. Turlyhhanov's accomplishments also include winning a silver medal in the 1988 Summer Olympics and a bronze medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics. Although he narrowly missed the podium in the 1996 Summer Olympics, finishing in fourth place, his remarkable career earned him numerous accolades.^[8][9]

During his sporting journey, Turlyhanov secured eight championship titles in the Soviet Union and emerged victorious twice in the World Cup. He stood as a triumphant champion in the last Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR in 1991 and excelled at the 1994 Asian Games, where he claimed victory in 1994.^[8][9]

Outside the realm of sports, Turlyhanov ventured into politics. From 1986 to 1993, he served in the Committee of Physical Culture and Sports under the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR as a sportsman's coach.^[6]

In the 1994 legislative election, he was elected as a deputy into the 12th convocation of the Supreme Council from the Ürjar constituency.^[10]

Following that, he assumed the role as the chairman of the Sports Committee under the Ministry of Culture, Information, and Sports from September 2004 to March 2006.^[11]

After stepping down from the Sports Committee, Turlyhanov went on to hold various leadership roles, including serving as a bureau member for a prominent international sports organization and presiding over regional and national wrestling federations. He also engaged in entrepreneurial activities, founding his own corporation.^[11]

Turlyhanov's expertise and dedication were recognized nationally as he assumed the esteemed position of professor in the Department of Pedagogy under the Committee for Control in the Field of Education and Science of the Ministry of Education and Science in 2011.^[6] Furthermore, his passion for teaching and research led to him becoming a professor at the South Kazakhstan State Pedagogical Institute on 6 November 2014.^[6]

In the night of 10–11 February 2023, an incident involving one of Turlyhanov's son, Nurasyl, was reported after he was charged in allegedly assaulting the lawyers of Anna Dimitrievich and Oleg Chernov in Almaty.^[19] Following the news, Turlyhanov issued a public apology over Nurasyl's behavior on social media.^[20][21][22] In a further interview with Zakon.kz, Turlyhanov described his son's actions, expressing his dismay: "As you can imagine, it is not easy for me, like any parent, to hear all this."^[23]

In March 2023, an article published by Ulysmedia.kz linked Turlykhanov's successful career as an athlete and his aspirations for a deputy seat in the Mäjilis as part of "old Kazakhstan", in which "power and business were tightly connected structures." The article delved into his background as an Olympic medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling and his involvement in various business ventures. It also brought up past scandals involving Turlyhanov's sons and the controversies surrounding his popularity among the public.^[24]

• 1998: Honorary Professor from Kazakh Institute of Physical Education.^[6]
• 2005: Academician from the Academy of Security, Defense, and Law Enforcement of the Russian Federation^[8][9]
• 2007: Doctorate from the Seoul Academy of Physical Education and Sports
• The Medal for Distinguished Labor (1994)^[28]