Born: 1985 (Kyrgyzstan)
Biography:
Maiya Salakharqyzy Maneza, born on 1 November 1985, is a Kazakhstani weightlifter who has left a significant mark on the sport, despite facing numerous challenges and controversies throughout her career. Maneza initially rose to prominence when she won the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 63 kg category. Her victory not only brought her personal glory but also set a new Olympic record by lifting a combined weight of 245 kg. However, her triumph was short-lived, as she was later stripped of her Olympic medal after testing positive for prohibited substances in a failed drug test.
Born in Kyrgyzstan, Maneza belongs to the ethnic Dungan minority. In 2007, she made the decision to move to Kazakhstan, where she would represent the country in weightlifting competitions. Interestingly, Chinese media reported a different background for Maneza. According to these reports, she was born Yao Li and later emigrated to Kazakhstan in 2008 alongside fellow weightlifter Zulfiya Chinshanlo. However, the government of Kazakhstan dismissed these claims and accused China of poor sportsmanship for suggesting Maneza and Chinshanlo should be regarded as Chinese.
Despite the controversy surrounding her nationality, Maneza’s talent and dedication to the sport cannot be denied. Her Olympic success put her in the spotlight and solidified her status as one of Kazakhstan’s top weightlifters. Maneza’s achievements in the sport had a substantial impact on society, inspiring many young athletes to pursue weightlifting and showcasing the capabilities of women in a traditionally male-dominated field.
However, Maneza’s career took a significant blow in June 2016 when the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) announced that retests of the samples taken from the 2012 London Games revealed she had tested positive for stanazolol, a prohibited substance. Maneza was not the only Kazakhstani weightlifter to face this result; three others, Zulfiya Chinshanlo, Svetlana Podobedova, and Ilya Ilyin, also tested positive. As a result, the IOC stripped Maneza of her 2012 Olympic gold medal, tarnishing her once-impeccable reputation.
The doping scandal deepened in August 2016 when it was revealed that retests of samples taken from the 2008 Beijing Games also indicated Maneza’s use of stanazolol. This finding resulted in her disqualification from the 2008 Olympic Games, despite her withdrawal from the competition beforehand. Maneza’s fall from grace was undoubtedly disheartening for her fans and supporters, as well as for the weightlifting community as a whole.
While the controversy surrounding Maneza’s doping allegations may overshadow her contributions to the sport, it is important to recognize the impact she had during her career. She served as a role model for aspiring weightlifters, notably women, proving that perseverance and hard work can lead to remarkable achievements. Maneza’s dedication to her craft, despite the obstacles she faced, undoubtedly made her a trailblazer in women’s weightlifting, leaving a lasting impact on the sport’s history.
Awards:
– Gold Medal, 63 kg category, 2012 Summer Olympics (Later stripped of the medal due to a failed drug test)