This weekend our friends over in Georgia arranged the international “Open Maximali Cup 2012” in Tbilisi, attracting about 200 swimmers from Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, the best of them preparing for the European Juniors and the London Games this summer.
Good results were for instance 18-year-old Temo Kobakhidze from Georgia winning the 200 freestyle in 2:00.41, Azerbaijan’s ex-Belarus champion Evgeny Lazuka winning the 100 butterfly in 55.15, and Beijing 2008 participant Irakli Revishvili from Georgia winning the 100 freestyle in 52.89. Georgia took the men’s 4×100 freestyle and 4×100 medley, Azerbaijan the men’s 4×50 freestyle. After the meet, Revishvili was named best swimmer of the tournament for his 4:03.42 effort in the 400 freestyle.
(Video posted by Tako Chilaia)
Georgian youngsters Irakli Bolkvadze, Dato Sikharulidze and Temo Kobakhidze used this meet as practice before the Europeans, shying away from their best events. Bolkvadze also prepares for the London Games, having made that qualifying time at the Debrecen Europeans, and Lazuka as a wild-card choice for Azerbaijan.
More videos and results can be seen on Georgian Swimmers Club on Facebook
