Tbilisi, Georgia: The National Weightlifting Federation of Georgia (NWFG) announced the winners of its annual awards for the best weightlifters of 2023 on Tuesday.
The awards ceremony was held at the NWFG headquarters in Tbilisi and was attended by the federation board members, coaches, athletes, and media representatives.
The awards were based on the medals and achievements of the Georgian weightlifters in various international and national competitions throughout the year. The NWFG also introduced new categories of awards, such as the Ivane Grikurov’s award for the best coach of the year and the best region of the year, which received a transitional cup.
The most prestigious award, the best weightlifter of the year, went to Lasha Talakhadze, who broke three world records and won three gold medals at the 2023 World Weightlifting Championships in Lima, Peru. Talakhadze lifted 484 kg in the men’s +109 kg category, setting new world records in the snatch (222 kg), clean and jerk (262 kg), and total.
The best female sportswoman of the year was Mariam Murghvliani, who won a bronze medal at the 2023 European Weightlifting Championships in Moscow, Russia, in the women’s 59 kg category. Murghvliani lifted 212 kg, setting a new national record in the clean and jerk (120 kg).
The Best Coach of the Year award was named after Ivane Grikurov, a legendary Georgian weightlifting coach who trained many Olympic and world champions, such as Kakhi Kakhiashvili, Akaki Kakhiashvili, and Giorgi Asanidze.
The award was given to Giorgi Asanidze, the current head coach of the Georgian national weightlifting team and a former Olympic champion. Asanidze led the Georgian team to win six medals at the 2023 World Weightlifting Championships, the best result in the history of Georgian weightlifting.
The Best Region of the Year award was given to Adjara, a coastal region in southwestern Georgia which produced many talented weightlifters, such as Zaza Lomtadze, Saba Asanidze, and Mariam Murghvliani. The award was presented by Ruslan Ghibradze, the president of the NWFG, who praised the efforts and achievements of the Adjara Weightlifting Federation and its coaches.
The other award winners were:
- The best weightlifter of the year U23: Zaza Lomtadze
- The best weightlifter of the year U20: Saba Asanidze
- The best weightlifter of the year U17: Levan Ochigava
- The best weightlifter of the year U15: Jaba Tkshelashvili
- The best coach of the youth team: Malkhaz Lomtadze
- The best coach of the Chabukta team: Zurab Antauri
- The best coach of the women’s team: Temur Janjghava
- The best personal trainer of the year in adults: Avtandil Gakhokidze
- The best personal coach of the year U23: Malkhaz Lomtadze
- The best personal coach of the year U20: Temur Janjghava
- The best personal coach of the year U17: David Kharatashvili
- The best personal coach of the year U15: Guram Mamiashvili
- The best female personal trainer of the year: Akaki Kakabadze
- The personal coach with the most medals for the national team: David Kharatashvili
- The best referee of the year: Koba Obolashvili
- For the unique contribution made to the development of weightlifting: Ruslan Ghibradze
The NWFG congratulated all the award winners and thanked them for their hard work and dedication to the sport of weightlifting. The NWFG also expressed hope and confidence that the Georgian weightlifters will continue to achieve great results and make the country proud in the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.