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Giga Jankhoteli is a champion sports climber from Lentekhi, Georgia, where his love for climbing was revealed while scampering over rocks at the age of 16. After graduating from school, Giga moved to Tbilisi. By this time, Jankhoteli was already participating in competitions throughout Georgia and soon caught the attention of the Georgia National Climbing Federation, which he joined in 2011. As a champion climber, heli strives to continually improve, which led him to Italy to enjoy Stanislao Zama’s coaching.
Giga is a champion in speed climbing, hard climbing, and bouldering. Despite his champion status, he recognized the need to push himself further. In 2022, under the guidance of Zama, Giga Jankhoteli trained with the Italian National Climbing Team. Italian climbing is known for its comprehensive approach to climbing, comprised of a blend of traditional and sports climbing techniques that emphasize precision, technique over brute strength, and the strategic use of equipment.
Giga Jankhoteli has served as coach of the Georgian National Climbing Federation from 2018 to 2022 and for CLIMB.GE from 2020. The training in Italy provided him with exposure to different coaching styles and technical strategies. Here, he could focus on finesse, the use of body dynamics, and mental as well as physical endurance. His experience in Italy allowed him to train on different types of rock and wall configurations, which is essential for a champion, who faces an edge during competitions.
Working with Zama brought a new level of expertise to Giga’s training methods. Zama’s experience in coaching top-level athletes and knowledge of advanced climbing techniques were invaluable.
This cross-cultural training isn’t new or novel, yet it isn’t done enough, nor is it encouraged as much as it should be. There are deeper lessons to learn when pushed out of a comfort zone. Instead of getting stuck in a rut, athletes and coaches are forced to challenge themselves. One of the benefits of such training is overcoming language and cultural barriers. Traveling for competitions can infect a climber’s mind, leaving them less than confident. Jankhoteli was forced to overcome his insecurities while training in a new country in a new language.
This wasn’t the first time Giga Jankhoteli crossed cultural borders. He is a winner of many chess tournaments and even participated in the World Chess Championships and World Cups. (Chess and climbing are certainly a world apart culturally.)
Now, back home in Tbilisi, Giga shares his experiences and new techniques with the rising generation of new climbers. His experiences have only added to his abilities, making this champion climber and coach all the more ready to ascend higher than before.
About the Author
Stacie Morrison is a freelance writer living in Tennessee covering the music scene. She always enjoys branching out into sports, which has always been a passion for her.
Photos provided by the author.
