1. Personal Life
Vladimer Khinchegashvili's early life was marked by a strong family connection to wrestling and a formative education in his hometown of Gori, Georgia, which laid the foundation for both his athletic and later political careers.
1.1. Childhood and Family
Vladimer Khinchegashvili, standing 67 in (170 cm) tall, was born on April 18, 1991, in Gori, Georgia. His passion for wrestling was deeply influenced by his father, Giorgi Khinchegashvili, who was also a wrestler and a European Junior Champion. Tragically, his father passed away in 1999, but his legacy continued to inspire Vladimer's path in the sport.
1.2. Education and Early Wrestling Training
Following in his father's footsteps, Vladimer began his wrestling journey at a young age. In 2000, he joined the youth team of Dinamo Gori, a local sports club. From 2001, he received dedicated personal coaching from Nugzar Skhireli, who played a crucial role in his development as a wrestler. He also trained under national coaches Revaz Kobakhidze and Arkadi Khinchikashvili. For his higher education, Khinchegashvili attended Gori State University.
2. Wrestling Career
Vladimer Khinchegashvili's wrestling career spanned both junior and senior international competitions, where he consistently demonstrated exceptional skill and determination, earning numerous medals and accolades.
2.1. Junior Career
Khinchegashvili's junior career was marked by significant achievements on the international stage. In 2007, he won a bronze medal at the European Cadets Championships in the 110 lb (50 kg) category. The following year, in 2008, he secured a gold medal at the European Cadets Championships in Daugavpils in the 119 lb (54 kg) category and a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in Istanbul in the 121 lb (55 kg) category.
His success continued into 2010, when he earned a silver medal at the European Junior Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria, in the 121 lb (55 kg) category, finishing behind Togrul Asgarov of Azerbaijan. However, he avenged this loss later that year by defeating Asgarov to claim the gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Budapest in the same 121 lb (55 kg) weight class. In 2011, Khinchegashvili continued his dominance at the junior level, winning gold medals at both the European Junior Championships in Zrenjanin and the World Junior Wrestling Championships in Bucharest, both in the 121 lb (55 kg) category.
2.2. Senior Career
Khinchegashvili's transition to the senior level began in 2010 when he was first selected for the Georgian national team. His debut on the senior international stage was at the 2010 European Wrestling Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, where he placed ninth after defeating Krassimir Krastanov of Great Britain but losing to Viktor Lebedev of Russia. His senior career quickly escalated, bringing him to the forefront of international wrestling.
2.2.1. Olympic Games
Khinchegashvili participated in his first Olympic Games at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, competing in the 121 lb (55 kg) freestyle event. He advanced through the rounds, defeating opponents such as Ibrahim Farag, Radoslav Velikov, Amit Kumar, and Shinichi Yumoto. In the final, he faced Dzhamal Otarsultanov of Russia and secured a silver medal.
Four years later, at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Khinchegashvili aimed for gold. Competing in the 126 lb (57 kg) category, he received a bye in the first round. He then defeated Nurislam Sanayev, Haji Aliyev, and Vladimir Dubov, setting up a gold medal match against Rei Higuchi. Khinchegashvili triumphed over Higuchi, earning the Olympic gold medal.
2.2.2. World and Continental Championships
Beyond the Olympics, Khinchegashvili achieved considerable success at the World and European Championships. At the World Wrestling Championships, he won a silver medal in 2014 in Tashkent in the 126 lb (57 kg) category. The following year, he claimed a gold medal at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, again in the 126 lb (57 kg) class. In 2017, he added a bronze medal at the World Championships in Paris, competing in the 134 lb (61 kg) category.
His performance at the European Wrestling Championships was equally impressive. He won a silver medal in 2011 in Dortmund in the 121 lb (55 kg) category and a bronze medal in 2013 in Tbilisi in the 132 lb (60 kg) category. He then went on to win three consecutive gold medals at the European Championships: in 2014 in Vantaa (126 lb (57 kg)), in 2016 in Riga (134 lb (61 kg)), and in 2017 in Novi Sad (134 lb (61 kg)). His final European Championship medal was a bronze in 2018 in Kaspiysk in the 143 lb (65 kg) category.
2.2.3. Other Competitions and Retirement
Khinchegashvili also competed in other notable events. At the 2016 Wrestling World Cup in Los Angeles, he earned a bronze medal in the 126 lb (57 kg) division. He participated in the European Games, winning a silver medal in 2019 in Minsk in the 143 lb (65 kg) category. Notably, at the 2015 European Games, he and Belarusian wrestler Vladislav Andreev were disqualified after their semi-final match descended into a brawl.
Vladimer Khinchegashvili retired from competitive wrestling in March 2021, following his third-place finish at a 2020 Summer Olympics qualification tournament in Budapest, where he finished behind Vazgen Tevanyan of Armenia and Haji Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Prior to his retirement from competition, in February 2021, he had taken on the role of director of the Gori Wrestling School, established by his long-time coach Nugzar Skhireli.
3. Political Career
Following his distinguished career in wrestling, Vladimer Khinchegashvili transitioned into public service, focusing his efforts on local governance in his hometown of Gori.
3.1. Gori Mayoral Election
On July 30, 2021, Vladimer Khinchegashvili was announced as the mayoral candidate for Gori by the "Georgian Dream" political party. To pursue this new path, he resigned from his position as director of the Gori Wrestling School. The local elections were held on October 2, 2021, and Khinchegashvili won the Gori mayoral election with a decisive 52.9% of the votes. He has since served as the Mayor of Gori.
4. Assessment and Impact
Vladimer Khinchegashvili has left an indelible mark on both the world of wrestling and the public life of Georgia. As an athlete, his dual Olympic medals and multiple World and European titles cemented his status as one of Georgia's most celebrated freestyle wrestlers. His consistent performance at the highest levels of the sport brought significant international recognition to Georgian wrestling. In 2015, the Georgian Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs recognized his contributions by selecting him as the Male Georgian Athlete of the Year.
His transition from a decorated athlete to a public servant has been met with significant local support, as evidenced by his election as Mayor of Gori. In his role as Mayor, he is seen as a figure dedicated to community development and local governance, leveraging his national recognition to serve his hometown. His career exemplifies a successful transition from the discipline and dedication required in elite sports to the leadership and commitment demanded by public office.