Rio 2016: Shooters to make Olympic history as mother and son compete at same Games for first time
SHOOTERS from Georgia will make history in Rio by becoming the first mother and son to compete at the same Olympics.
Three-time Olympic medallist Nino Salukvadze, 47, and her 18-year-old son Tsotne Machavariani will be gunning gold in the pistol events.
Salukvadze said: “I am so proud and very happy to have my son here with me.
“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.
“When I am at the village I am the mother, although he is with the other athletes, not with old people like me.
Her son Machavariani will compete in the 50-metre pistol and 10-metre air pistol events in Rio.
And he is hoping to outdo his mother by clinching his maiden medal at a younger age.
Although he admits that bagging gold is NOT his dream in Rio.
He said: “My mother won her first medal when she was 19. I am only 18.
“My dream is to go surfing at Copacabana. My mother will let me.”
Veteran competitor Salukvadze will become only the second athlete ever to compete at eight Olympics after canoeist Josefa Idem Guerrini – who competed for both Italy and West Germany.
Salukvadze first competed in Seoul in 1988, winning gold in the 25-metre pistol and silver in the 10-metre air pistol for the Soviet Union.
She then won a third Olympic medal at Beijing in 2008 by taking bronze in the 10-metre air pistol, this time representing Georgia.
Salukvadze also appeared at Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Athens and London.