Now Bolat Mankenov is the National Director of Coaches of Kazakhstan.

With the 1992 All Around Gymnastic Olympic Champion Tatania GutsuWith the 1992 All Around Gymnastic Olympic Champion Tatania Gutsu	(left to right) Sergey Kudrayvtsev, Michael Kozlowski, Bolat Mankenov, (in center) Tatania Gutsu(left to right) Sergey Kudrayvtsev, Michael Kozlowski, Bolat Mankenov, (in center) Tatania Gutsu

Tatania Gutsu, the 1992 (Barcelona) All Around Gymnastic Olympic Champion (http://www.tatianagutsu.com ), came to Chicago from Detroit to meet with her friends …

Once again, I met with Serik Konokbaev, amateur boxing star of the 1980’s, who I trained with in Kazakhstan. …

With Serik Konokbaev and his wife, SholpanWith Serik Konokbaev and his wife, Sholpan

Serik Konokbaev, a member of the Kazakhstan Parliament, is currently working to improve the state of amateur boxing in Kazakhstan. Their Olympic team is not as tough this year as it was in previous years. Only two true prospects remain on the team: Bakhtiyar Artayev, Athens Olympic Champion and “Outstanding Boxer of the Olympic Games;” and Serik Sapiyev who just became a two time world champion this year in Chicago where Artayev won the bronze.

Michael Kozlowski and Head Coach of Kazakhstan Boxing, Damir BudambekovMichael Kozlowski and Head Coach of Kazakhstan Boxing, Damir Budambekov