He is 178 cm/5 ft 10 tall and weighs 105 kg/231 pounds Akkaev has moved up into −105 kg weight category as a replacement for Dmitry Lapikov and Dmitry Klokov. Akkaev was scheduled to compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 105 kg class but was forced to withdraw due to a back injury.
He competed in the men"s 94 kg at the 2004 Summer Olympics where he won a silver medal. At the 2008 Summer Olympics he won the bronze medal in the 94 kg category, with a total of 402 kg. He won the 2011 European Weightlifting Championships in Kazan, with a total of 425 kg He became the 2011 World Champion in Paris, beating his compatriot Dmitry Klokov by 2 kg with a total of 430 kg.
