Georgian Robert’ Shavlaq’adze’s best year as an athlete was 1960, when he won silver at the Soviet Championships and was selected for the 1960 Soviet Olympic team. At the Olympics, Shavlaq’adze was not favored, a role which fell to the world record holder, American John Thomas. In the Olympic final, however, Shavlaq’adze missed his first jump at 2.00, but never missed another height to win Olympic gold with a personal best of 2.16, leaving the more highly regarded Valery Brumel and Thomas with silver and bronze, respectively. After his surprising Olympic gold, Shavlaq’adze won bronze at the 1962 European Championships and competed at the 1964 Olympics, where he placed fifth. Shavlaq’adze won his only Soviet title in 1964, his other medals at the Soviet Championships being silvers in 1959, 1960 and 1962. After finishing his sports career, Shavlaq’adze worked as an athletics coach, mainly in his native Georgia, but also in the People’s Republic of the Congo in the 1970s. From 1981-93, Shavlaq’adze worked as a professor of physical education department at the Agricultural University of Georgia and later with the Georgian National Olympic Committee.
Personal Best: HJ – 2.17 (1964).
Soviet Union
Georgia