Kazakhstan Gets Its First Medal in Sochi · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

Kazakhstan got its first-ever Olympic medal in figure skating, with Denis Ten taking the bronze in Sochi today. Ten finished third in men's figure skating, behind Patrick Chan of Canada and Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan. With this bronze, Kazakhstan has become the first Central Asian nation to win a medal at the Sochi Olympics so far.
Here are some of the initial reactions to Ten's medal on Twitter:
Gold medal in the men’s free skate goes to Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN), silver- Patrick Chan (CAN) & bronze- Denis Ten (KAZ)! pic.twitter.com/kPumL0Yabn
— Sochi 2014 (@Sochi2014) February 14, 2014
A little history for Denis Ten (@Tenis_Den), who becomes first #Olympic #figureskating medalist from Kazakhstan #Sochi2014
— Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) February 14, 2014
File this under : Justice In the Universe. Kazakhstan's Denis Ten wins Olympic bronze after a brilliant… [pic] — https://t.co/DwRJpk213V — Arsdiona Boediono (@arsdiona_b) February 14, 2014
Урааааа! Поздравляю @Tenis_Den и весь Казахстан с бронзой!
— Assel Krykbayeva (@Amica_twi) February 14, 2014
Hooray! Congratulations to @Tenis_Den and the entire Kazakhstan on this bronze!
Kazakhstan won the bronze!!!!! Wowoweewow — Erika Esola (@emesola) February 14, 2014
Yes! In Kazakhstan the first medal – bronze!) Awesome performance, all thanks to #DenisTen #Kazakhstan #Olympics2014 — Altinay Suingarina (@Altinay_S) February 14, 2014
Тен !!первая наша медаль!!!)))ураааа!!!! #Kazakhstan #Sochi2014 — Ludmila Olkhovaya (@Ludovick107) February 14, 2014
Ten! Our first medal! Hooray!
Денис!!!! Казахстан!!!! )))))) умничка!!! Слов нет. — Anastassia (@anastassia_i) February 14, 2014
Denis!!!! Kazakhstan!!!! )))))) Well-done!!! I am wordless.
Казахстан ликует! Наконец! #патриот #Казахстан pic.twitter.com/EoDHXpT7Id — Malikova Farida (@MalikovaF) February 14, 2014
Kazakhstan is triumphant! Finally! #patriot #Kazakhstan
Денис Тен наша гордость) спасибо большое! верим в будущем только золото, алга Казахстан!!! #Denis Ten #Sochi2014 #Kazakhstan #Olympics2014
— Jane Kelaman (@JKelaman) February 14, 2014
We are proud of Denis Ten) Thanks a lot! We believe that only gold [medals] will come in future. Go Kazakhstan!
Денис Тэн, ты молодец, Казахстан гордится тобой!!!! — Yelena Kirillova (@elena9kir) February 14, 2014
Well-done, Denis Ten. Kazakhstan is proud of you!!!
@Tenis_Den С большой победой тебя , 3 место большая победа . Весь Казахстан говорим большое спосибо тебе ) — Vatslav B.N (@iVatslav) February 14, 2014
Congratulations on your big victory! Third place is a big victory. Thanks from all of Kazakhstan.
Казахстан взял бронзу по фигурному катанию!!! Таааак радуюсь, аж сама удивлена))) Вот что значит Родина!)
— Natalya) (@fisherlady_nata) February 14, 2014
Kazakhstan took bronze in figure skating!!! I am sooo happy that I can't believe myself))) This is what the Motherland means!)
#DenisTen krassavchik!! Thank you from all of Kazakhstan! Kazakh proud!! You are the best!! @Tenis_Den pic.twitter.com/37W4Z62bWQ — Gauhar Arystan (@GauharArystanKZ) February 14, 2014
Denis Ten is about to become the King of Kazakhstan. 20 years old and just earned the country its only medal. Well done! #Sochi
— Pia Catton (@PiaCatton) February 14, 2014
Итак, первая медаль есть! Кто дальше? #Алга#Казахстан — Kuanova Madina (@Madina_Kuan) February 14, 2014
So, we have the first medal! Who comes next? #GoKazakhstan
Поздравляю Казахстан с первой медалью.. Молочина Денис.. Мы верили в тебя)))))) — Махмутова Назугум (@NmNazugum) February 14, 2014
Congratulations to Kazakhstan on its first medal… Well-done, Denis… We believed in you))))
Казахстан не спит! Казахстан ликует и празднует! Хорошо что завтра суббота! — Kayrat A. (@kayrat1976) February 14, 2014
Kazakhstan is not sleeping! Kazakhstan is celebrating and feeling triumphant! Good that it is Saturday tomorrow.
Я не видела сегодняшней победы @Tenis_Den,но благодаря инсте и тви чувствую радость,которая объединила весь #Kazakhstan! #Sochi2014#Сочи2014
— Madina Idrissova (@MadinaPVL) February 14, 2014
I didn't watch [Ten's] victory today, but thanks to Instagram and Twitter, I can feel the happiness that has united all of Kazakhstan.
Borat references
Many reactions from Twitter users outside the country have included references to Borat, a 2006 mockumentary comedy film that introduced millions of people around the world to Kazakhstan.
Borats country, Kazakhstan just medaled for the first time…in men's figure skating, figures.
— Aidan Fitzsimon (@AidanFitzsimon) February 14, 2014
I am happy for Patrick Chan but more excited for the Kazakhstan skater! Borat must be stoked! #Sochi #Olympics pic.twitter.com/Eb9CVuF6Ac
— Jenny Bray (@jenny_bray) February 14, 2014
#Sochi2014 What in the name of Borat is going on in men's figuring skating? #Kazakhstan with the bronze.
— Rich D Johnson III (@rdj3video) February 14, 2014
Kazakhstan medals in men's figure skating. The country's motto has already changed to “We're not just Borat anymore!”
— Dan Trainor (@dantrainor1) February 14, 2014