1. Overview
Nestor Khergiani (ნესტორ ხერგიანიNestor KhergianiGeorgian) is a Georgian judoka born on July 20, 1975. He is widely recognized for his significant achievements in international judo competitions, most notably winning a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics in the men's 60 kg category. Throughout his career, Khergiani also earned multiple medals at the World Judo Championships, securing a silver in 2007 and a bronze in 1999. He achieved considerable success at the European Judo Championships, where he claimed two gold medals in 1998 and 2003, in addition to numerous bronze medals.
2. Early Life and Career
Nestor Khergiani was born on July 20, 1975, in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region of Georgia. His introduction to martial arts came at the age of seven when, while accompanying his father with cattle, a neighbor encouraged him to engage in a wrestling match with another child his age. Khergiani won this impromptu match, which sparked his interest and led him to begin training in sambo. After completing his formal education, he transitioned from sambo to judo. Recognizing his potential, Khergiani was awarded a scholarship through the Olympic Solidarity program, which supported his athletic development starting in August 2001.
3. Competitive Career
Nestor Khergiani maintained a distinguished and extensive competitive career in judo, consistently competing in the men's extra-lightweight category, which is the 60 kg weight class. His career saw him participate in and medal at the highest levels of international judo, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships, as well as numerous other prestigious tournaments.
3.1. Olympic Games
Khergiani competed in three editions of the Olympic Games. His first appearance was at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where he was eliminated in his opening match. His most notable Olympic performance occurred at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, where he earned a silver medal in the men's 60 kg event. In the final match, he faced the formidable Japanese judoka Tadahiro Nomura. Khergiani ultimately lost the bout after accumulating three shido penalties, primarily due to a defensive posture. He later participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but similar to his first Olympic outing, he was defeated in his initial match.
3.2. World Judo Championships
Nestor Khergiani secured several medals at the World Judo Championships. He claimed a bronze medal at the 1999 World Judo Championships held in Birmingham, competing in the men's 60 kg category. In 2001, he finished in fifth place at the World Championships. His highest individual achievement at this level was a silver medal at the 2007 World Judo Championships in Rio de Janeiro, where he again competed in the 60 kg division. In the final, he was defeated by Ruben Houkes of the Netherlands by a yuko score. Khergiani also played a crucial role in Georgia's success in team competitions at the World Championships, earning a silver medal at the 2002 World Team Judo Championships in Basel, and contributing to gold medal victories at the 2006 World Team Judo Championships in Paris and the 2008 World Team Judo Championships in Tokyo.
3.3. European Judo Championships
Khergiani achieved considerable success at the European Judo Championships, collecting multiple gold and bronze medals over his career. He won his first gold medal at the 1998 European Judo Championships in Oviedo, Spain, in the men's 60 kg category. His second gold medal at the European Championships came at the 2003 European Judo Championships in Düsseldorf, Germany. Khergiani also earned a remarkable nine bronze medals at these championships: in 1999 (Bratislava), 2000 (Wrocław), 2001 (Paris), 2002 (Maribor), 2007 (Belgrade), 2008 (Lisbon), and 2009 (Tbilisi). Additionally, he finished fifth at the 2006 European Championships and seventh at the 1997 European Championships. In team events, Khergiani contributed to a bronze medal at the 1996 European Team Judo Championships in St. Petersburg. He was also part of the Georgian teams that won gold medals at the 2002 European Team Judo Championships in Maribor, the 2003 European Team Judo Championships in London, and the 2007 European Team Judo Championships in Minsk. He also secured a bronze medal with the team at the 2006 European Team Judo Championships in Belgrade.
3.4. Other Competitions and Team Results
Beyond the major championships, Nestor Khergiani actively participated in and medaled at various other significant international tournaments, including Grand Slams, Grand Prix, and World Cups. He secured a bronze medal at the 1999 Summer Universiade in Palma de Mallorca. His other notable results include:
| Year | Tournament | Place | Weight Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Russian International | 2nd | 60 kg |
| 1997 | Georgian International | 2nd | 60 kg |
| 1998 | Austrian International | 2nd | 60 kg |
| 1999 | German International | 2nd | 60 kg |
| 1999 | French International | 3rd | 60 kg |
| 2000 | Georgian International | 2nd | 60 kg |
| 2002 | Georgian International | 3rd | 60 kg |
| 2002 | Grand Prix Moscow | 3rd | 60 kg |
| 2003 | Russian International | 1st | 60 kg |
| 2003 | Georgian International | 1st | 60 kg |
| 2003 | Czech International | 2nd | 60 kg |
| 2005 | Georgian International | 1st | 60 kg |
| 2006 | Czech International | 3rd | 60 kg |
| 2009 | World Cup Tbilisi | 2nd | 60 kg |
| 2009 | World Cup Warsaw | 3rd | 60 kg |
4. Personal Information
Nestor Khergiani primarily competed in the men's extra-lightweight category, which corresponds to the 60 kg weight class. He stands at 63 in (160 cm) tall.