Kozhakhmetov arrived at NC State from Kazakhstan and adjusted to short course yards. He finished his freshman season at the 2025 ACC Championships swimming lifetime bests in both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes. He was 12th in the 100 breast in a 52.12 and 24th in the 200 breast in a 1:55.86 (1:55.80 in prelims). He scored 16 individual points.
He returned for his sophomore season and saw his season best in the 100 breast at prelims during midseason with a 52.72. He swam a 53.05 at ACCs for 26th. His season best in the 200 breast came at 2026 ACCs with a 1:58.30 for 34th.
Kozhakhmetov’s Best SCY Times Are:
- 100 breast: 52.12 (freshman season)
- 200 breast: 1:55.80 (freshman season)
The Auburn men finished 5th out of 11 teams at the 2026 SEC Championships with 652 points. Diver Ethan Swart led the way for the team while Abdalla Youssef Nasr led the way for the swimmers with 47 individual points. Nasr has announced he will transfer to Florida for the upcoming season.
Based on his best times, Kozhakhmetov would have made the SEC ‘B’ final of the 100 breast and the ‘C’ final of the 200 breast this past February. The team was led by rising junior Uros Zivanovic in the 100 breast with a 51.10 while rising sophomore Maston Ballew led the team in the 200 breast with a 1:52.10.
It took a 51.45 t0 make NCAAs in the 100 breast this past season so Kozhakhmetov’s best time isn’t far off that mark. The Auburn men were 17th at 2026 NCAAs with 55 points.
This man was not a good pick up, I do not appreciate the Kazakhstani bias from Vlad. This is not going to workout!!!!