Finding His Direction Through Economics: Batyrkhan’s Story
At just 17, Kazakhstan student Batyrkhan Mukhtarkhan has already won the Economics Olympiad twice.
In 2026, Batyrkhan took first place at the International Final Round of the Economics Olympiad in Ancient Olympia, Greece, successfully defending the title he won in 2025. His achievement came at the end of a global competition that involved around 160,000 young people, with 147 finalists from 32 delegations reaching the international stage.
But behind the result is a much longer story.
Batyrkhan began exploring economics through the Economics Olympiad in 2023. In his interview with EFI, he describes how different life felt just a few years ago: he had few achievements to point to, wasn’t sure what he wanted to do in the future and hadn’t yet discovered what really interested him.
Economics helped give him direction.
His journey has involved years of study and preparation, as well as opportunities to learn alongside other young people. Before the 2026 International Final Round, Batyrkhan attended EFI’s Central Asia Economics Olympiad Bootcamp in Almaty, where students from across the region came together to prepare, exchange ideas and build connections ahead of the competition.
His second victory is an exceptional achievement, but Batyrkhan’s next step may say just as much about the wider impact of the opportunity. He hopes to support future Economics Olympiad students in 2027, potentially helping to mentor the next generation of participants.
Watch Batyrkhan’s Story
In this short interview, Batyrkhan reflects on winning the Economics Olympiad for a second time, how economics has helped give him direction, and what he hopes to do next.
Read the Transcript
Prefer to read the interview? The transcript of the video is provided below.
Batyrkhan:
“I was really happy and proud of myself that I managed to get first place once again and I also I felt like this first place was more accomplished…”
Do you think you’ve changed since you started doing the Economics Olympiad?
Batyrkhan:
“I’ve been thinking about it a lot, honestly, for the last a few days. Two, three years ago, I was just in eighth or ninth grade. I was thinking that I had no achievements. I didn’t know what I will do in life; I didn’t know what I even liked. I think it just gave me a direction…”
What’s next for you?
Batyrkhan:
“Maybe next year I’ll like help organize the National Round, or maybe even tutor of some of the future contestants, so Kazakhstan could bring five golds next year.”
“I’m really grateful to EFI because without the first Olympiad in 2023 I believe I wouldn’t probably start economics, I wouldn’t know what is all about…”