“I was born on June 12, 1984, in the village of Korul, located in the Alay district of the Osh region. I finally settled in Karaganda with my family. I have eight sons, and I am actively involved in their upbringing, taking them to school and kindergarten,” Nurlan shares.
He received his education at the schools named after Zheenaly Orozov and A. Bektashov, located in the villages of Korul and Birinchi Mai. However, he was unable to obtain higher education due to moving to Kazakhstan in the 1990s in search of work.
Later, his parents returned to Kyrgyzstan, while Nurlan stayed in Kazakhstan, where he married a Kazakh girl. They met when he was renting a room in her family's house. In 2002, they got married after two years of dating. In total, they have been together for almost 26 years,” he recounts.
Nurlan's first experience with winter swimming took place in Yekaterinburg, where he tried this activity about 15 years ago. At that time, he could not do it regularly, but for the past three years, he has been taking morning swims every day, regardless of the season, even at temperatures of -40 degrees. Interestingly, Karaganda is considered one of the coldest cities in Kazakhstan.
“I am a born nature lover, especially of water. I fish year-round — both in winter and summer. There have been situations when the ice cracked, and I ended up in the water three times, but I always managed to get out on my own. Over time, my attachment to water has only grown,” Nurlan shares.
He is passionate about hunting and fishing. In 2021, he managed to take 1st place in fishing competitions in the Karaganda region and 2nd place across all of Kazakhstan. Nurlan dreams of representing Kyrgyzstan at international tournaments and raising his country's flag,” emphasizes Jumabaev.
His family supports his hobbies: “My father, who is 64 years old, swims in the Aalay River every morning. My sons in Karaganda have also been diving with me for two years now. I believe that winter swimming provides a beneficial boost to the body and helps with hardening. It is important to do this gradually and wisely, listening to your body,” he adds.
Nurlan is convinced that hardening strengthens the immune system and helps with various ailments — from dizziness and stress to more serious illnesses.
“In Karaganda, there is a growing interest in winter swimming among the population — both Kazakhs and representatives of other nationalities. People ask about the rules, come to learn, and practice together. If last year there were only a few of us, now the number of those interested has noticeably increased, and people have begun to realize the benefits of hardening,” he notes.
“Unfortunately, our people rely too heavily on medications and chemical products. Pharmacies have filled all the streets. This is our fault, as we thoughtlessly support their business. I urge people to avoid unnecessary medications. Thank God, there are many natural remedies, such as honey, ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric, that can help in the prevention and treatment of diseases. We should avoid mass-produced products, such as vegetable oil and yeast dough. It is better to consume bread made from wheat flour on sourdough,” advises Nurlan.
“I have many plans for the future. I want to return to Kyrgyzstan, take my parents on a pilgrimage, and do everything possible with my eight sons to glorify our country and develop in various directions,” concludes Jumabaev.
