Uzbekistan's sports milestones in 2026

The year 2026 will certainly remain in the annals for Uzbekistan. The country sent a record delegation to the Asian Games: 396 athletes represented it in 42 sports. It also participated for the first time in the FIFA World Cup this summer. Despite its three defeats, the national team posed challenges to Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has now hosted its first World Swimming Championships in Tashkent.

Preparation for the swimming event

Around 750 athletes competed in the pool at Olympic City a few weeks before the Short Course World Championships in Beijing (1-6 December). "The organization of the World Swimming Championships in Uzbekistan for the very first time constitutes a very important step for World Aquatics. The combination of world-class facilities and a warm welcome will ensure athletes an extraordinary experience, both in the pool and outside," stated Husain Al Musallam, president of World Aquatics, before the start of the event, emphasizing the opportunity "to inspire an entirely new generation of young swimmers across Central Asia."

High-profile athletes and achievements

Australian sprinter Cameron McEvoy, Olympic champion in the 50-meter freestyle, was among the main attractions, alongside Egor Kornev, Haiyang Qin, Marrit Steenbergen, or Carson Foster. Several world records were broken, attesting to the quality of the competition site. This event contributes to a strong momentum: last year, the country inaugurated Olympic City, a complex spanning more than 100 hectares and comprising multiple international-standard facilities. Uzbekistan has also secured other major events: the 2027 World Para Athletics Championships, the 2027 World Fencing Championships, or the 2029 Asian Youth Games.

Focus on aquatic sports development

The country aims to build an increasingly respected name on the international stage. However, it looks further ahead. "In recent years, aquatic sports have become an important element of Uzbekistan's sports development," explains Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva, first vice president of the Uzbekistan Paralympic Committee and member of the World Aquatics Bureau. "Our objective is simple: we want more young people to discover aquatic sports, and we want to help talented athletes reach the highest international level. This evolution is important not only for Uzbekistan but also for all of Central Asia."

Encouraging youth through sports

"Hosting world-class swimmers for the first time in Uzbekistan is a very special moment," adds Otabek Umarov, first vice president of the Uzbekistan Olympic Committee and vice president of the Asian Olympic Council. "With a young population of 38 million people, this event offers an incredible opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by encouraging our youth to adopt an active and healthy lifestyle." A vision that could allow Uzbekistan to approach the first tier.