You're reading an online edition of the Weightlifting House newsletter. Want stories like these delivered directly to you every Friday? Subscribe here.
When Akbar Djuraev won the Olympics in 2021, we thought we'd crowned the new king of the heavyweight division. But over the subsequent three years, Djuraev couldn't sit comfortably on his throne.
Sure, he still won international medals. But with his former category, 109 kilograms, off the table for Paris 2024, Djuraev fumbled between different categories; nothing fit just right.
At the 2025 World Weightlifting Championships, we saw Akbar back to his old self in the 110-kilogram class, setting world records and leaving the rest of the field in the dust.
We knew we had to talk to him about it. Below is our conversation with possibly the most reclusive champion in weightlifting.
Weightlifting House x Akbar Djuraev
This interview works a bit differently than usual. Akbar was generous with his time and energy, but he's a very terse individual—and there's a language barrier as well.
Instead of presenting our conversation as it happened, we're going to contextualize each question and provide direct quotes when applicable.
Akbar trained all year for the 2025 World Championships in Norway. Other than a tune-up meet at the Asian Champs, where he finished with a very conservative 406 at 109, he focused solely on showing up to Forde in his best shape ever to win in a category that suited his body type.
It paid off; he set his best weight-capped total since 2021 (428), hit world records in the snatch (196) and total, and attempted a ridiculous clean & jerk record (245) as well.
Why 245, when the world standard was 237? Because he'd done it already:
"I had done 245 in training. God willing, I will lift it in competition."
And it was recent, not during his foray into the super-heavyweight division.
Much like rival heavyweight Simon Martirosyan, Djuraev was pinched between the heaviest two categories at the Paris Olympics. He could cut to 102, and be very slender for his frame, or try to hack it with the supers.
He tried to make it in the supers; a decision he regrets. Despite a big total at the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games in 2022—446 (200/246) weighing around 120—it wouldn't have been enough to make the podium in Paris.
"I didn't see a future at +109," he told us. So he made the long journey down from 120 kilograms to 102, during which time he battled injuries and fatigue from lack of sufficient nutrition.
"I was on a diet for a long time, and had a hard time training because of it. I was under a lot of stress."
Still, Akbar's foray into the supers led to some truly impressive lifts. He snatched 205 in training—and that's just what's on video.
We asked what he thinks he could've done if he stayed in the uncapped division. Akbar said it'll remain a secret.
In Norway, we saw rare displays of emotion from Akbar. Unlike teammate and sort-of mentor Ruslan Nurudinov, Akbar is reserved both on and off stage.
He told us that it's always been difficult to express his feelings in life, not just on the weightlifting stage. But heading into Worlds, Akbar committed to "showing more character."
When we spoke to Ruslan, who has been an international medalist since 2009, he described difficulties in shepherding Akbar through his career. For Akbar's part, there seems to be kinship.
"I see Ruslan as a brother. We are only rivals in competition."
In competition, it's Akbar vs. everybody. Though he won Worlds by 13 kilograms, Akbar holds his weightlifting colleagues in high esteem.
He shouted out countries with athletes he views as direct competitors:
- Iran: Alireza Nasiri, a Junior, who won silver at Worlds behind Akbar.
- Kazakhstan: Artyom Antropov
- Armenia: Garik Karapetyan and Simon Martirosyan
- Azerbaijan: Dadas Dadashbayli
Akbar mentioned Sharofiddin Amriddinov, also from Uzbekistan, by name: "He's from a younger generation, but there's still time for him to be ready at 110."
Amriddinov is three years younger than Akbar, and has a best international total of 395 at 109 from this year's Asian Champs.
To wrap things up, we asked a couple of miscellaneous questions about Akbar's history with weightlifting, his experience as an Uzbek athlete, and what we'll see from him in 2026.
- Akbar started weightlifting when he was 10, describing his early instruction as a struggle.
- Like Ruslan, Akbar notes that the Uzbek federation "pays very good attention" to its athletes.
As for 2026, we'll let the man speak for himself.
"I will try to come back very strong to set new world records and retain my world title."
