Georgians at the Rio Olympics

The Rio Olympic Games turned out beautifully for Georgia this year and sport enthusiasts were able to support their sportsmen with particular pride, watching them do their utmost to get results and make Georgian fans happy. On returning home the Georgian Olympic heroes were met by Tariel Khechikashvili, the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, and a plethora of fans at the airport. It was an emotional meeting, where sportsmen expressed their gratitude and noted that their victory belongs to their homeland and their fans. Minister Khechikashvili thanked the sportsmen and everyone who had contributed to the glorious victory.

After Beijing 2008 and Athens 2004, the 38th place in the medal table is the third best result for Georgia at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Georgia was represented in Rio by 39 athletes, the largest ever Olympic team for the country.

Georgia won two gold, one silver, and four bronze medals in weightlifting, judo and wrestling. Vladimer Khinchegashvili won gold in the men’s freestyle 57kg wrestling; Lasha Talakhadze won the gold medal in the men’s over 105kg weightlifting, with a world record, and Irakli Turmanidze won the bronze in the same weight category – it was the fi rst time in Olympic history that two athletes from Georgia shared the same podium. Varlam Liparteliani took silver in the men’s 90 kg judo; Lasha Shavdatuashvili took bronze in the men’s 73 – kilogram category in judo; Shmagi Bolkvadze won bronze in the men’s 66kg Greco-Roman wrestling; and Geno Petriashvili captured bronze in the men’s freestyle 125 kg wrestling.