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Athletes of the Georgian Technical University

Today, Georgia holds a distinguished place on the world sports map and rightly takes pride in its Olympic, World, and European champions and medalists.

The names of the accomplished athletes who received their education at the Georgian Technical University are also inscribed in this illustrious list in letters of gold.

Rugby

One of Georgia’s most successful sports is rugby. The Georgian national team has won the European Championship title sixteen times. The foundations of this courageous sport were laid at our higher education institution, specifically on October 15, 1959, when French émigré Jacques Aspekian founded the first Georgian rugby club at the Georgian Polytechnic Institute.

 

Handball

Our male handball players added another glorious chapter to the history of Georgian sport. In January 2024, they competed in the final stage of the European Championship and achieved a historic victory in the group stage.

1962

In 1962, the first Soviet Union Championship in seven-a-side handball was held. The title was won by Tbilisi’s “Burevestnik,” whose squad consisted predominantly of students from the Georgian Polytechnic Institute. Two years later, Georgian handball players once again reached the top step of the podium and secured medal positions on three occasions. In 1976, GPEI alumnus Aleksandre Anpilogov became an Olympic champion, and in 1982, a World Champion, while Aleksandre Khutsishvili won the World University Games in 1968.

Basketball

The women’s and men’s basketball teams of the Georgian Polytechnic Institute wrote a glorious chapter in the history of Georgian sport.

Fencing

In the 1990s, fencers from the Georgian Polytechnic Institute achieved notable success in competition. In 2012, veteran fencers and graduates of our university – Yuri Osipov, Moris Sakhvadze, Zurab Tskitishvili, Guram Jaiani, and Givi Tsagareli – together with Archil Gogelia, built an international-standard fencing hall, which they subsequently transferred to the Georgian Fencing Federation.

Mountaineering

Representatives of the Georgian Polytechnic Institute have made a significant contribution to the century-old history of Georgian mountaineering. In the 1950s, the institution established a sports section for mountaineering, tourism, skiing, and rock climbing, where several generations of Georgian mountaineers were trained.

1999-2000

Among the most distinguished mountaineers are Beno Kashakashvili and Bidzina Gujabidze. On May 12, 1999, together with two other Georgian mountaineers (A. Gigani and L. Sarkisov), they reached the summit of Mount Everest (Jomolungma), the highest peak in the world, at an elevation of 8,848 meters. In 2000, together with G. Otarashvili, they conquered Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world.

Beno Kashakashvili
Bidzina Gujabidze

2022

In 2022, an alpine expedition dedicated to the centenary of the Georgian Technical University was successfully carried out on Mount Kazbek, and today the flag of the Georgian Technical University flies atop Georgia’s highest peak (5,054 m).

Olympic Champions

The Georgian Technical University is justifiably proud of its Olympic champions, who received their education at the university.

Kakhi Kakhiashvili

Olympic champion in weightlifting in 1992, 1996, and 2000; three-time World Champion and four-time European Champion; multiple world record holder; winner of the Soviet Union Cup and CIS Champion; twice named Georgia’s Sportsman of the Year; Honored Master of Sports; currently President of the Georgian Weightlifting Federation.

Roman Rurua

Georgian Greco-Roman wrestler; 1968 Olympic champion at the Mexico City Games and silver medalist at the 1964 Tokyo Games; four-time World Champion; winner of three Spartakiads of the Peoples of the Soviet Union; three-time Soviet Union Champion; head coach of the Georgian Greco-Roman wrestling team (1984-1985) and coach of the USSR national team (1984-1987); Honored Master of Sports; Member of the Parliament of Georgia during the 5th convocation (1999-2004).

Aleksandre Anpilogov

Handball player; played for Tbilisi “Burevestnik” (1970–1985), Germany’s “Landshut” (1987-1992), and the USSR national team (1975-1987); Olympic champion (1976) and silver medalist (1980); World Champion and silver medalist; two-time World Cup winner and Soviet Union Cup winner; Honored Master of Sports.

Zurab Sakandelidze

Basketball player; played for Tbilisi “Dinamo” and the USSR national team (1965-1973); Olympic champion (1972) and bronze medalist (1968); World Champion and bronze medalist; four-time European Champion and bronze medalist. In 1967, at the European Championship in Helsinki, he was named the tournament’s best defender and selected for the All-Tournament Team. He was a winner of the USSR Cup, named Georgia’s Sportsman of the Year (1967), and awarded the title of Honored Master of Sports. Head coach of Tbilisi “Dinamo” basketball club (1979-1983).

Mikheil Korkia

Basketball player; played for Tbilisi “Dinamo” (1965-1979) and the USSR national team (1971-1977). Olympic champion (1972) and bronze medalist (1976); European Champion and two-time silver medalist; Soviet Union Champion and silver medalist; winner of the Soviet Union Cup. Honored Master of Sports. President of the Kutaisi “Torpedo” football club.

Avtandil Koridze

Greco-Roman wrestler; Olympic champion (1960); World Champion; two-time silver medalist and bronze medalist at the Soviet Union Championships; winner of the Adriatic Cup; Honored Master of Sports.

Sergei Kovalenko

Basketball player (215 cm); played for the Georgian Polytechnic Institute’s “Burevestnik” team (1965-1969). He was subsequently invited to join the USSR national team and won a bronze medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. In 1972, as a member of Kyiv’s “Stroitel” team (1969-1975), he became an Olympic champion in Munich.

World Champions

The Georgian Technical University has its own World Champions.

Guram Sagaradze

Freestyle wrestler; Olympic silver medalist (1964); two-time World Champion and silver medalist; European Champion and bronze medalist; three-time Soviet Union Champion and bronze medalist; Honored Master of Sports and Honored Coach of the USSR.

Rostom Abashidze

Greco-Roman wrestler; three-time World Champion and three-time Soviet Union Champion; winner of the Third World Youth Games; gold medalist at the Ivan Poddubny International Tournament; Honored Master of Sports. On February 20, 2015, a star honoring Rostom Abashidze was unveiled in front of the Wrestlers’ Club. He served as head coach of the Georgian national Greco-Roman wrestling team.

Zarbeg Beriashvili

Freestyle wrestler. He began practicing the sport at the Georgian Polytechnic Institute and became a champion of the “Burevestnik” sports society. He won one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal at the World Championships, as well as the Soviet Union Cup; he was a four-time European Champion, six-time Soviet Union Champion, and champion of the Third Spartakiad of the Peoples of the Soviet Union, and won the Japan Open Championship.

Yuri Osipov

Épée fencer, member of the USSR national team (1955-1964); the first “GPEI” graduate to compete at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games (5th place in the team event); World Team Champion; World and USSR Student Games Team Champion, as well as a silver and bronze medalist; winner of the All-Union Cup; ten-time Georgian champion; Honorary President of the Georgian Fencing Federation.

Luka Maisuradze

Freestyle wrestler. He took up the sport at the Georgian Polytechnic Institute and became a champion of the “Burevestnik” sports society. He won one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal at the World Championships, as well as the Soviet Union Cup. He was a four-time European Champion, six-time Soviet Union Champion, champion of the Third Spartakiad of the Peoples of the Soviet Union, and winner of the Japan Open Championship.

World Championship Medalists and European Champions

Guram Minashvili

Basketball player; Olympic silver medalist (1960); Honored Master of Sports of the Soviet Union; World Championship bronze medalist; three-time European Champion; winner of the European Champions Cup; Soviet Union Champion, three-time silver medalist and bronze medalist; named the best player at the Mirano Cup tournament in Italy; Head of the Department of Physical Education and Sport at the Georgian Technical University.

Anzor Lezhava

A basketball player who played for Tbilisi’s “Nauka,” “Burevestnik” (1954-1958), and “Dinamo” (1959–1972), and represented the national teams of Georgia and the USSR.

Omar Egadze

A freestyle wrestler, Honored Master of Sports, world vice-champion, winner of the 3rd and 4th Spartakiads of the Peoples of the USSR, and four-time champion of the Soviet Union.

Nodar modebadze

A freestyle wrestler, holder of the World Cup, European champion, USSR absolute champion, and two-time runner-up (silver medalist).

Avtandil Maisuradze

A freestyle wrestler, International Class Master of Sports, world champion among juniors, champion of the 8th Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR, and absolute champion of the Soviet Union.

George Makasarashvili

A freestyle wrestler, International Class Master of Sports, holder of the World Cup, and two-time bronze medalist at the European Championships.

Moris Sakhvadze

A fencer, bronze medalist at the European Championship, three-time champion of the Soviet Union, silver medalist in individual and team championships, and also two-time bronze medalist in team championships. Holder of the Soviet Union Cup.

Jano Bagrationi

A handball player who played for Tbilisi’s “Burevestnik.” Champion of the USSR; Honored Coach of Georgia and the Soviet Union; Head of the Department of Physical Education at the Georgian Polytechnic Institute, Deputy Minister of Sport and Tourism, First Deputy Chairman of the State Department of Sport, Member of the 5th Convocation of the Parliament of the country – Chairman of the Subcommittee on Sport and Youth, President and Honorary President of the National Olympic Committee.

Levan Kobiashvili

A footballer, member of the Georgian national team (1996-2011), with 100 matches played. President of the Georgian Football Federation (since 2015).

Soso Liparteliani

A judoka, Olympic Games medalist (1996) and European vice-champion, world medalist in Sambo. Head coach of the Georgian national judo team.

Edisher Machaidze

A Greco-Roman style wrestler, two-time holder of the USSR Cup, International Class Master of Sports, Honored Coach of Georgia; Doctor of Technical Sciences.

Manuchar Machaidze

A footballer, champion and vice-champion of the Soviet Union, three-time bronze medalist, silver medalist at the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR, two-time holder of the Union Cup, Honored Master of Sports; played for Tbilisi’s “Dinamo” (1966-1980), served as its captain, member of the Soviet Union national team (1974-1979). Member of the Georgian Parliament of the fifth convocation.

Guram Gogolauri

A judoka, participant at the Munich Olympics (5th place), three-time European team champion, two-time silver and bronze medalist, two-time champion of the socialist countries, vice-champion of the USSR, holder of the Union Cup, winner of international tournaments, Honored Master of Sports.

David Gurgenidze

A Grandmaster in chess composition, two-time world champion and bronze medalist in composing chess studies and problems; two-time champion of the Soviet Union and three-time bronze medalist.

Omar Bliadze

A Greco-Roman style wrestler, European champion and silver medalist, silver medalist at the World Championship, champion and silver medalist of the Soviet Union.

Mindia Bodaveli

A judoka, European champion among juniors, world champion in Sambo and three-time bronze medalist, two-time European champion and four-time medalist.

Jemal Abiashvili

A handball player, two-time champion of the Soviet Union, three-time silver and two-time bronze medalist. Participant in two World Championships. Best goalkeeper of the Soviet Union (1962-1964).

Tamaz Antadze

A handball player, two-time champion of the USSR, three-time silver and bronze medalist; played for Tbilisi’s “Burevestnik” (1957-1967, 1969-1970), member of the USSR national team, Honored Coach of Georgia.

George (Gogi) Gogelia

A fencer, Master of Sports, the first Georgian champion of the USSR in fencing among juniors (1951), member of the Union national team (1957-1960), silver medalist at the World Festival, two-time finalist of the Soviet Union championship.

Kote Gogelia

A fencer, Master of Sports, multiple-time champion of Georgia and holder of the Cup; bronze medalist of the USSR among juniors; together with the team of the Georgian Polytechnic Institute, champion of the USSR among youth, and silver and bronze medalist.

Zaza Nadiradze

A Georgian rower. Participant in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Gold medalist at the 2018 European Championship (Belgrade, Serbia). Winner of the World Cup (2019, Poznań, Poland). President of the Georgian Rowing Federation since 2020.

Bukhuti Gurgenidze

A chess player, the first Georgian Grandmaster, four-time participant and two-time champion of the World Student Team Championships as part of the Soviet Union’s national team.

Shota Iamanidze

A footballer, Honored Master of Sports, member of Tbilisi’s “Dinamo” (its captain from 1961-1967) and of the Soviet Union national football team; champion of the Soviet Union and three-time bronze medalist.

Mikheil Kekelidze

A basketball player. Played for “Dinamo,” was a champion of the USSR and three-time holder of the Union Cup, Honored Coach of the Soviet Union, Honored Figure of Physical Culture and Sport of Georgia. Head of the Department of Physical Education and Sport at the Georgian Polytechnic Institute.

George Narimanidze

A handball player, played for Tbilisi’s “Burevestnik” from 1970; bronze medalist at the 1975 Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR, three-time third-place finisher at the Union championships, holder of the Soviet Union Cup.

Valerian (Suliko) Rogava

A pentathlete (five-event athlete), Master of Sports of the USSR, Honored Coach of Georgia.

Mikheil Tskhvedadze

A pioneer of Georgian basketball, referee of Union category. Head of the Department of Physical Education at the Georgian Polytechnic Institute.

Amberki Tabidze

A handball player, International Class Master of Sports, holder of the USSR Cup, three-time third-place finisher at the Union championships, bronze medalist of the VI Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR.

Zurab Sotkilava

A footballer and world-renowned singer. Member of Sokhumi’s “Dinamo” and Tbilisi’s “Dinamo,” captain of Georgia’s youth national team. Soloist of the Zakaria Paliashvili Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Academic Theatre and the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.

Lev Dzekonski

A basketball player, two-time champion and two-time vice-champion of the USSR, bronze medalist, Honored Master of Sports, Honored Coach of the USSR, referee of international category.

Tsitsino Kakhabrishvili

A chess player, Master of Sports of the Soviet Union, champion among girls of the “Dinamo” Sports Society Central Council, medalist at Union championships for students and youth.

ალექსანდრე ხუციშვილი

A handball player, Master of Sports, winner of the World Student Championship as part of the Union national team, champion of the Soviet Union, three-time silver and bronze medalist.

Valeri Lomadze

A basketball player, member of Tbilisi’s “Burevestnik” (1958-1961) and “Dinamo” (1962-1967); two-time bronze medalist at USSR championships, multiple-time winner of international tournaments among “Dinamo” clubs of 9 countries.

Champions and Prize-winners

Luka Maisuradze

A judoka, world champion and two-time bronze medalist, European champion and two-time third-place finisher, European champion among under-23s, world bronze medalist among juniors, European champion and silver medalist.

Ilia Sulamanidze

Silver medalist of the Paris Olympics, judoka, third-place finisher at World Championships and European vice-champion, two-time European champion among under-23s, world champion and silver medalist among juniors, two-time European champion and bronze medalist, silver medalist of the Zagreb Grand Prix.

Badri Kavelashvili

A kayaker, silver medalist at the World Championship, European champion, European champion among under-23s, bronze medalist of the World Cup.

Zaza Nadiradze

A canoeist, fifth-place finisher at the Olympic Games, European champion, two-time medalist at World Championships, winner and medalist of World Cups.

Shalva Sulamanidze

A judoka, bronze medalist at the European Championship among juniors.

Zviad Lomsadze

An arm wrestler, medalist at World and European Championships.

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