Yesterday Lasha Shavdatuashvili, London Olympic champion in 66kg, and his head coach Niko Bibilashvili visited Kutaisi as Imereti regional organization of Georgian National Olympic Committee (chairman Revaz Robakidze) invited them.

Meetings started from Olympic square where Lasha Shavdatuashvili visited stars of Kutaisi Olympic champions. Shavdatuashvili was promised if he became Olympic champion twice, his star would be in that square.

The Olympic champion and his coach were greeted warmly in the hall of Kutaisi University where they answered questions of students during one hour. Niko Bibilashvili talked a lot about his judoka. Then, the guests went to sports museum. Lasha Shavdatuashvili gave the museum that T-shirt which he wore while standing on the pedestal in London. After that the Olympic champion visited Bagrati Cathedral. Then, he met employees of “VTB” bank and received a gift from them. Lasha congratulated them on banker’s day.

More than 200 young sportsmen greeted the Olympic champion in a new judo school. Lasha Shavdatuashvili wished future tatami masters good luck.

“I agreed on arriving in Kutaisi with great pleasure. I feel so happy when people know and greet you. I will never forget this day. It was a great honor for me. I hope I will make all fans happy with new victories”, - stated the Olympic champion.

Iuza Katsitadze from Kutaisi
Photos by the author