A memorial plaque was opened on the facade of the house of legendary wrestler Vakhtang Balavadze. On November 20, the first Georgian world champion in freestyle wrestling, Olympic bronze medalist, and famous wrestler Vakhtang Balavadze would have turned 99 years old.
On November 19, a memorial plaque was opened on the facade of Vakhtang Balavadze’s residence. The legendary wrestler was remembered, and the heads of the Ministry of Sports and the Olympic Committee, veteran wrestlers, and sports community representatives talked about his death.
Leri Khabelov: “Vakhtang Balavadze was not only a great sportsman, the first Georgian world champion in freestyle wrestling, but he was also a great person, a true achiever of Georgian sports, one of the heads of the Georgian Sports Committee for many years.” He left a really special mark in the history of our sport as a wrestler of outstanding style, numerous titles, including Olympic medalist, attentive and caring leader, and a person who is valued and recognized throughout Georgia and beyond. “
Vakhtang Balavadze was born on November 20, 1927, in the Samtredia district village of Ghanir.
First Georgian world champion in freestyle wrestling (1954, Tokyo), second world champion in 1957 (Istanbul), World championship silver (Tehran, 1959) and Olympic games (Melbourne, 1956) bronze medalist, participant in Rome Olympic games (1960), USSR five-time (1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957) champion in freestyle wrestling, USSR champion (1952) champion in sambo and second prize (1951), Champion of Bucharest Youth I Masofilo Festival (1953), Second prize winner of the Soviet People’s I and II Spartakiads (1956, 1959), winner of many international tournaments, characterized the distinctive trait of wrestling, knightly style, for which he was called “Professor of Wrestling”.
Vakhtang Balavadze is the author of the books,, Georgian Palavniy on the World and Olympic Games” (1961), ,, Palavniy on a carpet” (1968), co-author of the textbooks,, Classic Wrestling” (1965) and,, Freestyle Wrestling” (1970), awarded,, Badges of Honor” two (1972, 1976), ,, People’s Friendship” (1980), Honor (1996), Vakhtang Gorgasli 2nd degree (2002) medals and various medals, For his special contribution to the development of wrestling, he has been awarded with the International Wrestling Federation FILA Golden Order (1997), for his contribution to the sports and Olympic movement development in Georgia by the Order of the Georgian Olympic Committee (2006), c. Honorary citizen of Tbilisi (1999), Honored Master of Sport of the USSR (1954), Honored Coach of the USSR (71), Judge of the highest category.
