On a journey into the wild and windy steppes, Cyprus’ strongest man discovers a startling truth
Cyprus is a land of nomads. Bear with me here. We’re not talking about ancient caravans winding their way through the desert, marking time by the sun and stars. Instead, we’re referring to global nomadism – the way so many of us live, work or study abroad, never fully tethered to one place…
We’re the students heading to London, emigrants on contract in Dubai, the second-gen in Melbourne. We’re professionals in Berlin, families in Toronto, entrepreneurs in New York; a people who move, who travel, who pack our bags and embrace the world.
Even within Cyprus, our population is nomadic. Expats drift in and out of Paphos and Limassol; remote workers set up their laptops in our beach cafés; here one week, gone the next. And refugees arrive on our island waystation en route to a new start.
This nomadic thread runs through our lives, lacing together stories of resilience, adaptability and exploration in a spirit of movement and growth. It’s this same spirit that recently took Ilya Khazov, the Lion of Limassol and Cyprus’ strongest man, to the 2024 World Nomad Games…
Held every two years, this celebration of ancient traditions, strength and endurance took place in Astana, Kazakhstan. Quite unlike any other sporting competition in the world, the Nomad Games include events that would have once been crucial to nomadic peoples: tests of strength and skill that ensured survival on the vast steppes.
Horseback archery, traditional wrestling, eagle hunting and kok boru (a rugged horseback game in which teams battle for control of a goat carcass) all require adaptability, resourcefulness and communication – ancient nomadic skills that remain just as crucial for the modern-day global citizen.
And then, of course, there are the five Powerful Nomads events, in which lifelong Limassol resident Ilya competed…
“These five events showcase the sheer physical power that nomadic peoples once relied on in their daily lives,” explains Ilya who, at 6 foot 5 and 180kg, represents the island around the world as a professional strongman. “And while the challenges are different today, the same strength, resilience, and adaptability are needed for the modern global nomad.”
Ilya already holds the Guinness World Record for Most Skips While Holding an Anvil, and recently took the first ever gold for Cyprus at an international strongman event in Hungary. He also hosted a highly successful stage of the Strongman Champions League in Cyprus last year, and will be repeating the competition on October 12, 2024 at the Limassol Marina.
But the Nomad Games, he reveals, were completely different from anything he’d previously experienced…
“The first of the five Powerful Nomads events involved carrying a 100kg stone – roughly the weight of a large fridge! – as far as possible within a minute,” Ilya reveals. “And I was instantly humbled…”
A traditional Kazakh event, the Stone Carry requires a technique that Ilya had never before encountered. “So, while I held the stone in my arms and staggered just 45 metres, the local strongmen simply rolled the huge rock up their bodies and behind their necks, and carried it over 120 metres!”
Ilya, who’s currently learning this new technique, also took part in the One-Handed Javelin Throw, the Log Lift, and the Sandbag Lift (in which a heavy leather bag stands in for the large sheep nomadic tribes would once have slaughtered and carried for miles). But his best showing was in the final event…
“The Cart Pull is based on a local legend,” he explains. “A batyr – a mythical giant of great strength and kindness – is driving a cartful of hay back to the village when he discovers the horse is lame. So he picks up the horse, loads it onto the cart, and pulls the entire thing himself!”
In the actual event, the competitors pulled a half-tonne cart across soft sand. “Iranian strongman Reza came first,” Ilya reveals. “But I took second for Cyprus!”
It was this event that earned Ilya the reputation of a batyr in his own right – a modern-day gentle giant.
“Wherever I went, people would touch my arm or chest for luck, calling me ‘batyr, brother and friend’,” he smiles. “It’s very indicative of the Kazakh culture: so rich in history and tradition; so warm and welcoming.
“Here,” he adds, “the nomadic traits of old – hospitality, resilience, resourcefulness – are a part of everyday life. And the Games reflect that; they’re about learning from one another, building connections, and celebrating the shared values that unite us across cultures.”
Sixteen athletes competed in the Powerful Nomad series, representing countries as far as Oman, Kuwait, India, Spain, Uzbekistan and Armenia. Ilya was the sole competitor from Cyprus, and was honoured to carry the flag in the Opening Ceremony.
“The whole Games made an incredible impression on me,” Ilya marvels. “There were about 2,500 athletes participating, and 1,600 hand-picked volunteers – every one of whom spoke at least three languages, and was extremely welcoming.”
This warmth and openness was Ilya’s main takeaway from the Nomad Games.
“Despite our different backgrounds, languages and cultures, we all share so much. The Nomad Games made it clear that we all – no matter we’re from – have more similarities than differences.” Whether you’re competing in Kazakhstan, building a life in London, or working remotely from a Limassol café, we’re all constantly on the move, learning from one another, and building connections that transcend borders.
“For me,” he concludes, “representing Cyprus on the world stage is a way to celebrate those connections and knowledge. Because, no matter where we come from, we’re all nomads. We’re all on a journey. A journey we share.”
