sport

FamouS GeorgianS

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SPORTS

Archil Arveladze

Football. Played as a striker for Ajax Amsterdam, NAC Breda France. Currently playing for FC Cologne Germany.

Shota Arveladze

Football. Top scorer for Ajax Amsterdam. Currently playing for Glasgow Rangers.

Maya Chiburdanidze

Chess. Female chess legend. Remained Womens World Champion for 13 years. Youngest World Champion of all time.

Nina Dumbadze

Athletics. One of the worlds greatest discus athletes. Set 7 World records. Olympic, World and European etc championships medalist.

Nona Gaprindashvili

Chess. Greatest woman chess player of all time. Remained Womens World Champion for 16 years! First to be awarded Grandmaster title. Successfully competed at mens top level tournaments.

Koba Gogoladze

Boxing. World Boxing Organisation (WBO) American Boxing Champion

Vladimir Gogoladze

Gymnastics. First to do triple back floor in the Olympics. He also 'invented' the flair up to pirouetting straddled handstand lowering back to flairs, called the 'Gogoladze'. Medallist of Olympic, European and World Championships.

Kakhaber (Kakha) Kaladze

Football. Playing for AC Milan.

Georgi Kandelaki

Boxing. Holder of the WBU World Heavyweight Title. Ranked in top 15 in the world.

Temuri Ketsbaia

Football. One of the top players for Newcastle United FC. Currently playing for Dundee, Scotland.

Georgi Kinkladze

Football. Played for Atletico Madrid, Saarbrucken, Manchester City, Ajax Amsterdam etc. Currently playing for Derby County.

Alex Metreveli

Tennis. Wimbledon finalist. Great tennis player of the 1970's.

Zaur (Zaza) Pachulia

Basketball. NBA Orlando Magic player

Anton Sikharulidze

Ice Skating. Many time World Champion, Olympic Champion, European Champion etc

Vladimir Stepania

Basketball. NBA. Played for Seattle Supersonics, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets. Currently playing for Miami Heat.

Kokkai
(Levan Tsaguria)

Sumo. Most successful European sumo wrestler in Japan.

Nikoloz Tskitishvili

Basketball. NBA Denver Nuggets player.

Dimitry Yachvili

Rugby. France International and Biarritz Scrum Half.

Michel Yachvili

Rugby. France Rugby Legend. Part of the team when France won their first 6 Nations Cup.

Wrestling Sports
and Weightlifting

Judo, Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Sambo, Weightlifting etc are traditional sports of Georgia. There are over hundred Georgian World, European and Olympic champions

Olympic Games

History. Georgia participated in XIII Summer Olympic Games and its 177 sportsmen won 103 medals - 31 Gold, 23 silver and 49 Bronze. Georgians established over 70 records in cycling, track and field, archery etc.

NOTABLE MENTION

ALPINISM

Michael Khergiani - named by Queen of England Elizabeth II 'Tiger of the Mountains'
Gia Tortladze
Benedict (Beno) Kashakashvili - completed the World's Seven Summits
Muratbi Kiboliani
Ghio Niguriani
Gabriel and Beknu Khergiani
Iliya Gabliani
Bidzina Gudzhabidze - Mt. Everest summiter
Merab Khabazi - Mt. Everest summiter
Chichiko Chartolani
Maxime Gvarliani
Mamuka Tsikhiseli - Mt. Everest summiter
Goji Zurebiani
Ermile Kakhiani
Jokia Gugava
Irakli Ugulava - Mt. Everest summiter
Afi Gigani - Mt. everest summiter
Lado Gurchiani, T. Kituashvili, V. Sabanidze, N. Didebulishvili etc
Aleksei Berberashvili - summited Europes highest spot on a motocycle

BASKETBALL

Otar Korkia - Soviet team legend
Sergo Atuashvili - Valencia Spain
George Mdivani - Pau-Orthez France
Manuchar Markoishvili - Treviso Italy, NBA Draft
Vakhtang Nadzishvili - Oliveirense Portugal
Vladimir Boisa - Union Olimpija Slovenia
Zaza Enden - Fenerbahce Turkey
Irakli Sakvarelidze - Globe Tech USA
David Ugrekhelidze - Slovan Slovenia
Giorgi Mamatsashvili - Dijon France
Anatoli Boisa - Halle Germany
George Erkvania - Rimini Italy
Vakhtang Natsvlishvili - Dijon France
Irakli Kendia - Slovan Slovenia
Giorgi Tsintsadze - CSKA Russia
Viktor Sanikidze - Dijon France. NBA drafted 2005
Revaz Atanelishvili - Slovan Slovenia
Irakli Nijaradze - Loyola USA
etc

CHESS

Male Chess Grandmasters

Zurab Azmaiparashvili, Bakhuti Gurgenidze, Yona Kosashvili, Zurab Sturua, Roman Dzindzichashvili, Giorgi Giorgadze, Tamaz Giorgadze, Baadur Jobava, Elizbar Ubilava etc

Female Chess Gandmasters

Nana Alexandria, Ketevan Arakhamia, Maya Chiburdanidze, Rusudan Goletiani, Nino Gurieli, Nana Ioseliani, Ketino Kachiani, Nino Khurtsidze, Nona Gaprindashvili, Tea Lanchava etc

David Baramidze - 13 year old chess prodigy
Prince Andrey Dadian (Dadiani) - 19th Century europe's chess patron and player
Victor Goglidze - Eminent player at the start of the last century

JUDO - World, Olympic medallists

Anzor Kibrosachvili, Anzor Kiknadze, Givi Onashvili, Shengeli Pitschelauri, Ramaz Harshiladze, ? Nizharadze, Parnaoz Chikviladze, Shota Khabareli, Amiran Tokiuashvili, Koba Kurtanidze, Georgiy Tenadze, Vladimir Dgebuadze, Georgi Vazagashvili, David Kakalishvili, Georgi Revazishvili, Nestor Khergiani, Zurab Zviadauri, Soso Liparteliani, Eldar Kurtanidze, Ramaz Chochishvili, Iveri Jikurauli, Tea Donguzashvili, Shota Schotschischwili, David Schakaleschwili, Akaky Kibordschiladse, Koba Nadiradze etc

FOOTBALL

Soviet Legends

Murtaz Khurtsilava, Vladimir Barkaya, Revaz Chelebadze, Aleksandr Chivadze, Avtandil Chkuaseli, Givi Chokheli, Vitali Daraselia, Otar Gabelia, Avtandil Gogoberidze, Anzor Kavazashvili, Gela Ketashvili, Slava Metreveli, Mikheil Meskhi, Giorgi Sitchinava, Andro Jordania, Gaioz Jejelava, Boris Paichadze, Shota Khinchagashvili, David Mujiri, Nodar Khizanishvili, Tamaz Kostava, Vakhtang Koridze, Manuchar Machiladze, Sergo Kutivadze, Ramaz Shengelia, Tengiz Sulakvelidze, Akhrik Tsveiba, Ramaz Urushadze, Kakhi Asatiani, Revaz Dzodzuashvili, David Kipiani etc

Clubs
This information is subject to change
Rati Alexidze - Chelsea, England
Mikheil Kavelashvili - Zurich, Switzerland
Aleksander Iashvili - Freiburg, Germany
Mikheil Potskveria - Bremen, Germany
Mikhail Ashvetia - FC Kopenhagen, Denmark
Giorgi Gakhokidze - PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands
Zurab Khizanishvili - Rangers, Scotland
Gocha Jamarauli - Luzern, Switzerland
Levan Tskitishvili - Freiburg, Germany
Levan Kobiashvili - Schalke, Germany
Georgi Nemsadze - Dundee, Scotland
Kakhaber Tskhadadze - Manchester City
Georgi Demetradze, Omar Tetradze etc
Over 30 Georgian players are currently playing in leading Russian,
Ukrainian, Polish, Israeli etc clubs.

Dinamo (Dynamo) Tbilisi Club
UEFA European Club Winners Cup, USSR Cup, Columbus's Caravela Spain etc

TENNIS

Juniors

Lado Chikhladze - French Open finalist
Salome Devidze - One of the top junior tennis players
Teimuraz Gabashvili
Ia Jikia
Timur Lomtitadze - Leading Russian based player
Sophia Melikishvili
Anna Tatishvili
Anna Tchakvetadze - Wimbledon finalist

TRACK & FIELD

High Jump
Robert Shavlakadze - Olympic Champion
Pentathlon
Vaho Iagorashvili - Champion, represents USA
Shot Put
Aleksandra Abashidze - included in worlds all time best list
Nunu Abashidze - included in worlds all time best list
Sprint (200m/400m)
Maya Azarashvili

WEIGHTLIFTING - World, Olympic medallists

Dito Shanidze
George Asanidze
Akakios Kakiasvilis (Kakhi Kakhiachvili)

WRESTLING (Greco-Roman/Free Style) - World, Olympic medallists

Givy Kartoziya, Zaza Turmanidze, Rostom Abachidze, Amari Egadze, Roman Rurua, Eldar Kurtanidze, Guram Gedeshauri, Tariel Melelashvili, Ramaz Nozadze, Vakhtang Blagidze, Georgi Tsurtsumia, Roman Dzneladze, Koba Guliashvili, Akaki Chachua, Avtandil Koridze, David Gvantseladze, Mikhail Mamiashvili, Mukhran Vakhtangadze, Shalva Chikhladze, David Saldadze, Gogi Koguashvili, Mirian Tsalkalamanidze, Guivi Sissaouri, Vladimir Rubashvili, Nodar Khokhashvili, Guliko Sagaradze, Vakhtang Balavadze, David Tsimakuridze, Levan Tediashvili, Georgiy Skhirtladze, Arsen Mekokishvili, David Gobezhishvili, Sergey Gabaradze, Nikolai Musashvili, Robert Dzhganadze, Zarbeg Beriashvili, Shota Lomidze, Tariel Alibegashvili, Georgi Gogchelidze, Iosif Beriashvili, Omar Bliadze, Shota Morshiladse, Michail Saladze, Temo Kasarashvili, Taimuraz Abchasava, Tengiz Tedoradze, Bakuri Gogitidze, Gela Papashvili, Gotcha Tsitsishvili etc

OTHER

Arm-Wrestling - champions
Zaza Gouguvenishvili
Erekle Gurchiani
Mamuka Pajishvili
Sofrom Santeladze
Box
Akakai Kakauridze
Shalva Paliani / Selim Palyani
Chris Ben Tchavtchavadze
Bridge
Nikolay Amiranashvili - Top Soviet bridge player
Car Racing
Jorge de Bagration - Rally and Formula 1 driver. 1960's-1980's
Dimitri Djordjadze - won the 1931 Belgian Touring Car Grand Prix
Dance (Latin/Sport/etc)
Shorena Gachechiladze - represents USA
Salome Lomsadze
Diving
Sergei Shalibashvili - represented USSR. Tragically died during a dive.
Guinness Sport Records
Shota Keldishvili - over 8000 dumb-bell lifts in 2 hours
Henry Kuprashvili - Marathon swimmer
Jumber Lezhava - World Trip on a bike (264, 000 km, 232 countries)
Georgy Makharadze - covered 12.5 miles juggling a ball with his feet
Lasha Pataraia - lifted 52.5 kg with his ears for 10 sec and pulled 2350 kg van with his ears
Gymnastics
Medea Dzhugeli - Olympic champion
Martial Arts
Vladimir Ardzhevanidze - Europe's Tae Kwan Do Champion
Shooting
Nino Salukvadze
Tamaz Imnaishvili
Sumo
Levan Ebanoidze - one of the top sumoists
Swimming
Rostyslav Svanidze - Ukranian based champion
Trampolining
Anna Dogonadze - German based World and Olympic Champion
Rusudan Khoperia
Volleyball
Givi Akhvlediani - Olympic Gold Champion Soviet Coach
Waterpolo - Olympic, World medallists
Pyotr Mshvenieradze - Soviet team captain
Nugzar Mshvenieradze
Georgy Mshvenieradze
Nodar Gvakharia
Mikhail Giorgadze
Givi Chikvanaya
Leri Gogoladze
Revaz Tchomakhidze - One of the worlds top players
Yachting
Guram Biganishvili

Developed by Datka
Contact
famousgeorgians@yahoo.co.uk

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Leila Meskhi

Tennis. Great tennis player of the 1980/90's Reached No 6 in World Ranking. Winner of many competitions inc Nashville USA etc Olympic medalist.

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Luka Chkhartishvili &
Ivane Makharadze & Team

Equestrian. Group of Georgian riders, mistakenly known as Cossacks, joined in 1882 the Buffalo Bills Wild West Show. They were immensely popular world wide, received awards from the Queen of England Victoria, praised by the press for outstanding skill etc. Georgian team performed for over 25 years. More.

Victoria Ravva

Volleyball. France International and Cannes team captain. Awarded Most Valuable Player and Sportswoman of the Year 2003.

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