CHATEAUROUX, France. Nino Salukvadze, the pioneering pistol shooter from Georgia, has announced her retirement from competitive shooting, concluding a remarkable career that spanned 36 years and 10 Olympic Games.
Salukvadze, 55, has been a fixture at the Summer Olympics since her debut in Seoul in 1988 when she competed under the Soviet Union banner. Her participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics made her the first female athlete to compete in 10 Olympics.
Reflecting on her career, Salukvadze noted the evolution of the Games, which have become more competitive and professionalized over the years. “The competition is tougher than ever,” she said, acknowledging the significant changes she has witnessed throughout her career.
Despite considering retirement after her debut Games, where she won gold and silver medals at just 19, and facing financial struggles in the 1990s in newly independent Georgia, Salukvadze remained in the sport. She had initially announced her retirement after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but decided to compete once more in Paris to honor her father and coach, Vakhtang.
“He was my mentor not only in sports but also in life. He was a wise man,” Salukvadze told The Associated Press. “He never asked for anything in his life. We had the kind of relationship where we understood each other just with our eyes.” She recounted his encouragement to give sports another try: “‘If you quit sports, you can’t come back. Just try,’” she remembered him saying. “It was the only favor he asked me for his whole life. I thought he perhaps wouldn’t be able to ask again. I gathered all my strength, for his sake.”
Vakhtang Salukvadze passed away earlier this year at the age of 93 but lived to see his daughter qualify for the Paris Olympics. In her final events, Salukvadze placed 38th in the 10-meter air pistol and 40th in the 25-meter pistol, failing to advance to the finals.
Salukvadze’s last Olympic medal was a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games, the first Olympic medal for an independent Georgia. Her podium embrace with Russian silver medalist Natalia Paderina was seen as a gesture for peace amid the backdrop of war between Georgia and Russia.
Although Salukvadze is retiring from competition, she remains involved in the sport as a coach at her shooting club in Georgia and as a vice president of the national Olympic committee.
Her historic achievement was recognized by the International Olympic Committee, with IOC President Thomas Bach sending his congratulations. The International Shooting Sport Federation is also planning an event to honor Salukvadze’s unparalleled Olympic career.
Reflecting on her achievements, Salukvadze recalled the indescribable joy of winning Olympic gold as a teenager in 1988, a feeling she still cherishes. “Even now, I can evoke these feelings in myself in the same way, feel it just the same,” she said.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
