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Lyudmila Prokasheva, a bronze medalist at the 1998 Winter Olympics, is calling for greater recognition and support for Kazakhstani athletes who achieve high rankings, even without securing a medal. She specifically highlighted figure skater Nadezhda Morozova, who placed sixth at the 2026 Olympics.

Fairness in Athlete Recognition

Prokasheva believes that Morozova, who has dedicated significant time to training and participated in two Olympic Games, deserves a housing award. She pointed to a precedent where another figure skater, Sofya Samodelkina, who placed tenth, received housing support from sponsors. Prokasheva feels that an athlete finishing in the top six, like Morozova, should also be rewarded with similar sponsorship, especially considering Morozova's status as a homegrown athlete from Astana.

Call for Housing Support

"Frankly, I wish Morozova would be gifted an apartment," Prokasheva stated. "She trained for a long time. Nadezhda participated in two Olympics; even without a medal yet, she has achieved great results. If a sponsor is found to reward Nadezhda, who made it to the top six, with an apartment, just like the 10th-place figure skater Sofya Samodelkina, it would be fair. Moreover, Nadezhda is our Kazakhstani athlete, born and raised in Astana, and has represented our flag her entire life. Therefore, I believe Nadezhda should be given housing certificates. If this doesn't happen, I don't know where to look for justice," she added.

Government Support vs. Athlete Achievements

Under Kazakhstani law, athletes are eligible for state bonuses if they achieve sixth place or higher in the Olympics, Paralympics, and Deaflympics. However, state-provided housing is typically reserved only for those who secure a top-three finish in these prestigious competitions.

This call for broader recognition underscores a debate about how to best support athletes who demonstrate exceptional performance and dedication, even if they don't reach the podium.

This is reported by the information agency Infohub.kz.