Olympic champion Lasha Talakhadze crowned Georgia’s sportsperson of 2016

Georgian weightlifter Lasha Talakhadze has been crowned the country's 2016 Sportsperson of the Year in a special ceremony on Monday that also distinguished other athletes and supporting organisations for their contribution to Georgian sport throughout the year.

Hosted at Hotel Hualing near Tbilisi Sea, the annual Sport Awards of the Year ceremony honoured Olympic and European champion Talakhadze for his achievements on domestic and international arenas.

The 22-year old weightlifter claimed Georgia's first gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August, setting a new world record for the clean and jerk discipline in the process.

Talakhadze was awarded by Sport Minister Tariel Khechikashvili (C) for his four weightlifting titles claimed in 2016. Photo from Sport Ministry of Georgia's press office.

Earlier in the year Talakhadze also became the European champion as he lifted the continental record 212kg in the snatch discipline in Norway.

In addition, the young athlete took the European Under-23 Champion title earlier this month in Eilat, Israel and won Georgia's domestic championship.

Talakhadze was awarded by Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia Tariel Khechikashvili, whose ministry is the organising body of the annual sport awards.

The annual Sports Awards honoured athletes, teams, federations and various companies for their contribution to Georgian sport. Photo from Sport Ministry of Georgia's press office.

The occasion handed out prizes in nine principal nominations in addition to seven special prizes.

Beside Talakhadze the major awards went to the following sports professionals and teams:

• Female Sportsperson of the Year: Anastasia Gottfried, weightlifting
• Young Sportsperson of the Year: Zviad Pataridze, wrestling
• Male and Female Para Sportspeople of the Year: Zviad Gogotchuri, judo; Irma Khetsuriani, wheelchair fencing
• Non-Olympic Sportsperson of the Year: Andrei Zinchenko, karate
• Referee of the Year: Edisher Machaidze, wrestling
• Sports Federation of the Year: Georgian Judo Federation
• Team of the Year: Georgian National Basketball Team
• Coach of the Year: Giorgi Asanidze, weightlifting

The additional prizes went to the following teams, companies and professionals:

• Youth Team of the Year: Georgian Under-20 National Rugby Team
• Sports Manager of the Year: Nikoloz Jgharkava, Georgian Football Federation Vice President
• Discovery of the Year: Zaza Nadiradze, paddle athlete
• Sportsperson Playing Abroad: Zaza Pachulia, basketball player
• Supporting Company of the Year: SOCAR Georgia
• Prize for Supporting Georgia at Rio 2016 Olympic Games: Embassy of Georgia in Brazil
• Special Contribution in Sports Medicine: Giorgi Tchumburidze, Georgian National Rugby Team physician; Georgian National Olympic Team medical staff

The end-of-year occasion involved Sports Ministry and Government officials, Georgian Olympic Committee members, representatives of various sports federations, veteran sportspeople, distinguished visitors, media and enthusiasts.

The Sport Ministry's annual event is held to reward achievements and contribution to development of Georgian sport.

Last year's awards honoured wrestler Vladimer Khinchegashvili following a season in which the athlete claimed the first world wrestling title for Georgia in eight years.