Born on July 2, 1981 in Akhmeta. Judoist (90 kg).

First Georgian Olympic Champion in the history of independent Georgia (2004, Athens, XXVIII Olympic Games). Two-fold second-prize winner of the World Championships (2001, 2003), European Champion by team competition (2002, 2003) and a third-prize winner by individual contest (2002), second-prize winner of the World Cup Competition by team total (2002), winner of the World Youth Championship (2000), second-prize winner of the World Competition among boys (1998). Awarded with the Order of Honor.