Georgia’s first gold at Rio Olympics
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Thursday, August 18
Georgian weightlifter Lasha Talakhadze, 22, won the first gold for Georgia at the Rio Olympic Games and set a new world record in clean and jerk on August 17.
Talakhadze was competing in the 105 kg category.
At the 2016 Olympics, the weightlifter completed a snatch of 215 kg, breaking the world record of 214 kg set by Iranian Behdad Salimi, who then took the record back with 216 kg, and then completed a clean & jerk of 258 kg to set a new world record of 473 kg and win a gold medal.
Talakhadze represented Georgia at the 2015 World Weightlifting Championships, finishing second with a total of 454 kg.
After Aleksey Lovchev failed a doping test, Talakhadze was promoted to first place.
During the same competition yesterday, fellow Georgian weightlifter in the same category, Irakli Turmanidze, 32, won bronze.
Commenting on the victory after the Georgian anthem was played in Rio, Talakhadze said it was doubly satisfying for him to stand on the pedestal with Turmanidze, as two Georgians were standing on the winners' stage.
“We have trained a lot, done our best and we are happy with this victory for our country and supporters,” Talakhadze said.
On August 16, Georgian Greco-Roman Wrestler in the 66 kg category, Shmagi Bolkvadze, also won a bronze medal.
Previously, Georgian wrestler Varlam Lipartleliani and Lasha Shavdatuashvili managed to win silver and bronze at the Olympics.
