Varlam Liparteliani

Varlam Liparteliani is a Georgian judoka who retired from competition in 2024 after a career that brought him silver medals at both the Olympic and World level. Born on 27 February 1989 in Lentekhi in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, he began judo at the age of eleven, inspired by the Japanese great Kosei Inoue and by fellow Georgian judoka Zurab Zviadauri. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 90 kg division and returned in 2016 as captain of the Georgian national judo team, winning the Olympic silver medal in Rio de Janeiro and losing the final to Mashu Baker. He won European Championship gold in 2012, 2014 and 2016, stood first in the world rankings in September 2018, later moved up to the 100 kg class, and took the 2021 World Masters title in Doha. His favourite technique is uchi mata.