For the first time in history, a mother and son duo are competing in the same Olympic Games.
Nino Salukvadze, 47, and her son, Tsotne Machavariani, 18, are representing Georgia in shooting competitions.
For Salukvadze, this is her record-tying eighth Olympic Games. She first stepped onto the scene representing the Soviet Union in 1988, where she won gold and silver.
As for how a mother and son travel to the Olympics together, both as athletes?
“He is just beginning now. I am more nervous for him, but when I am at the shooting range I am the coach and mentor,” Salukvadze told Olympic.org. ” When I am at the village I am the mother, although he is with the other athletes, not with old people like me.”
Salukvadze had better training conditions in the Soviet Union than her son has in Georgia now.
“She tells me that we do not have that luxury and she does not demand any results from me. I think this is her way to calm me down and minimize my nervousness during the tournament.”
For events that have a longer competitive window, this pair shows us that the Olympics can be a family event, suitable for multiple generations and their need for competition.
