[2] He is a student of the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports.
[2] He lives and trains in Ashgabat; his coach as of 2021 was Segeý Ýepifanow.
[3] He competed in the men's 100 metre backstroke event at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
[6] In 2021, Merdan Ataýew qualified to represent Turkmenistan at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, where he went on to compete in the 100 metre backstroke,[1] and the 200 metre breaststroke events.
[7] At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Merdan Ataýew was chosen the flag bearer for Turkmenistan again.