Rio de Janeiro: Beefy Kazakh swimmer Dmitriy Balandin put the former Soviet state on the Olympic map by winning his country’s first gold medal in the sport.

The 21-year-old, who resembles Dolph Lundgren’s character Ivan Drago in the movie Rocky IV, roared home from lane eight to win the men’s 200-metre breaststroke title, surprising even himself.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet that I’m an Olympic champion,” Balandin told reporters in Rio.

“I might need a week or 10 days to produce an adequate reaction. But for now this medal means everything. To make history for Kazakhstan is the best thing I can do for my country. It’s just unbelievable.”

Balandin produced a superb fightback after Japan’s fast-starting Yasuhiro Koseki had threatened to break the world record.

“You don’t win a race in the first 50 metres. You win it in the last 50 metres,” said Balandin, who burst onto the scene by capturing a breaststroke treble at the 2014 Asian Games.

“The Japanese guy went out too fast and ran out of power.”

Balandin’s victory brought Olympic credibility to Kazakhstan — once lampooned by the movie “Borat” and its bumbling main character squeezed into Soviet-era suits.

“I’m very proud to win a medal for my country, it’s a big honour,” he said. “The first Kazakhstan swimming medal — I think the whole of Kazakhstan is celebrating right now.”

American Josh Prenot took silver and Russia’s Anton Chupkov bronze behind Balandin, who looked a little lost on the podium as his country’s national anthem played and his mother, Katyana, sobbed tears of joy in the stands.

Kazakhstan, which has a population of 18 million, has a rich sporting history, achieving Olympic success in boxing, cycling and weightlifting.

At the pool, Kazakh journalists abandoned any pretence of impartiality as Balandin approached, loudly chanting the swimmer’s nickname: “Dima! Dima! Dima!”

Balandin, meanwhile, was already being lined up for work as a global ambassador for Kazakhstan.

Asked by a journalist if he would consider a role at next year’s Expo 2017, being hosted by Kazakhstan, Balandin said he would think about it.

“I haven’t been offered such a job yet,” he said. “But if someone were to make me an offer, I’d be delighted to help. Kazakhstan loves to entertain guests, everyone is welcome.”