Menlo College great Gulomjon Abdullaev grabs bronze in Paris

Menlo College head coach Joey Martinez is accustomed to watching Abdullaev triumph. As a freshman at Menlo College in 2022-23, Abdullaev capped his undefeated season with an NAIA national championship in the 133-pound division. Abdullaev stepped away from Menlo in 2023-24 to train in Uzbekistan with dreams or returning to the Olympics.

“Super proud,” Martinez said. “I couldn’t be more proud. His character and who he is as a person, even with the language barrier … he’s well deserving with everything he’s sacrificed in his life. …. I know he’s at the top of the world right now, but I couldn’t feel any better for him.”

Abdullaev arrived at the Menlo College campus as an international student in December 2022. He’d already had one Olympic appearance under his belt, having competed in the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, missing the podium by finishing seventh overall at 57 kg.

What Abdullaev didn’t have was the ready ability to communicate. Making the trip some 6,000 miles from Tashkent, Uzbekistan to wrestle at the small private college renowned as an NAIA wrestling powerhouse, he spoke hardly any English.

“He didn’t really know any English,” Martinez said. “He didn’t really know what collegiate style (wrestling) was ... but we got him here, he started learning a little bit more English, and started picking up really quickly on the wrestling. … And the guys embraced him.”

Abdullaev’s saving grace was Menlo College teammate Ratbeck Erkinbekov, a native of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Erkinbekov was entering his junior year at Menlo as a transfer from Keiser University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and quickly became something of an interpreter for Abdullaev, as the two were able to communicate by speaking Russian.

“He had a great personality, always trying to help and be open-minded and always trying to learn,” Erkinbekov said. “That’s why maybe he came all the way to America. Nobody does that. ... It’s a lot of risk coming out from a different country. I give him a lot of respect for that.”

Erkinbekov got a quick introduction to Abdullaev’s wrestling talent. While Erkinbekov wrestled in the heavier 157-pound division, the two would spar in practice. Erkinbekov said he got the better of Abdullaev the first time they grappled, using his signature head-and-arm throw. It made for a quick first impression, but also was the last time the move ever worked on Abdullaev.

“The first time, I got him one time,” Erkinbekov said, “and after that I never got him again.”

Not many people did. Abdullaev posted an 18-0 record through his freshman year at Menlo, with opponents totaling just five takedowns against him all season. He was one of the Oaks’ two NAIA national champions, along with Rysan Leong at 165s. He earned All-American honors along with the distinction as NAIA Wrestler of the Year. Menlo ultimately took fourth in the nation as a team.

Abdullaev still has three years of collegiate eligibility remaining after stepping away from Menlo College in 2023-24.

“It was important for him to make this [Olympic] team,” Martinez said. “That was one of his goals. … It was sad to see him leave, but he represented everybody. I’m glad to see him do well.”

Martinez and scores of Menlo College fans had an early wakeup call Thursday to view the preliminary rounds of Abdullaev’s Olympic quest. His opening match against Azerbaijan’s Aliabbas Rzazade started at approximately 3 a.m. PT. He made it worth their while, scoring an 11-4 victory in the opener, then following with a fun 12-5 win over Armenia’s Aresn Harutyunyan in the quarterfinals — overcoming early deficits of 1-0 and 3-2 — before falling in the semifinals 14-4 to Spencer Lee of the United States.

Abdullaev’s bronze-medal match against Almaz Uulu was an easier wakeup call, airing live Friday at approximately 10 a.m. PT.

Abdullaev is Menlo College’s second all-time Olympian. The first was Jesse Ruiz, who competed at the 20212 Summer Games in London in the heavyweight division. Abdullaev, however, became the college’s first Olympic medalist with a disciplined and commanding win Monday.

“He started a little bit cautious,” Martinez said. “Kept it kind of close. I feel like that’s his style. … He wrestled smart and he scored points when he needed to.”

For Erkinbekov, watching Abdullaev wrestle for bronze was a surreal experience for several reasons. Not only was he watching his friend and former teammate fight for a spot on the Olympic podium, Abdullaev had to go through Almaz Uulu, from his native Kyrgyzstan, to do so.

“It was going to my country or to Gulom,” Erkinbekov said. “So, I was like: ‘I don’t want my country to win — Gulom has to win!’”

Martinez said he doesn’t know if Abdullaev will return to Menlo College.

“This year coming up, we’ve got to take what the next steps are in terms of getting him back,” Martinez said. “Right now, I’m just trying to let him enjoy the moment. He just won the bronze medal.”

It would be a welcome addition, especially with Menlo athletics moving from NAIA to the NCAA Division II level in 2024-25. While most Menlo sports will be competing in the Pacific West Conference, the men’s and women’s wrestling teams will compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, along with Humbolt State, Simon Fraser University, San Francisco State and Vanguard University.

“I think the quality of athletes is going to be a little bit better across the board, but I don’t see me with the team jumping in and saying we’re overwhelmed,” Martinez said. “… We’re not going to miss a beat. I think we’ll be just fine.”

Erkinbekov — who graduated from Menlo College in the spring — said he is looking forward to Abdullaev returning to the Atherton campus, if for no other reason than to pay a visit. While Abdullaev’s collegiate career is up in the air, his English surely improved through his one season in the United States.

“I just felt good for him because he made it finally,” Erkinbekov said. “Like anybody, it’s his dream, I feel it’s special to feel good for your friends when they achieve something big. So, I’m looking forward to him bringing the medal in person.”