Mirela Maniani

Mirela Maniani
Personal information
Nationality Greek
Born December 21, 1976
Durrës, Albania
Spouse(s) George Tzelilis (1997–2002)
Updated on 18 May 2015.

Mirela Maniani or Manjani (Greek: Μιρέλα Μανιάνι, [miˈrela maˈɲani]; born December 21, 1976) is a retired Greek javelin thrower. Prior to 1997 she represented Albania.

Life and athletic achievements

Mirela Maniani
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  Greece
Olympic Games
2000 Sydney Javelin
2004 Athens Javelin
World Championships
1999 Seville Javelin
2003 Paris Javelin
2001 Edmonton Javelin
European Championships
2002 Munich Javelin

Maniani was born Mirela Manjani in December 21, 1976 in Durrës, Albania. In 1996, in a track and field meet in the University of Alabama she set a new Albanian national record at 62.46m (until 2015 she still holds the national record of Albania).[1] She represented Albania at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, USA and ranked 24th overall. During the competition she was also Albania's flag bearer.[2]

After marrying a Greek citizen, the weightlifter Giorgos Tzelilis, Manjani received Greek citizenship and represented Greece at the 1997 World Championships in Athletics in Athens. Her first major success came in 1999 in Seville, where she won the gold medal at the World Championships with a throw of 67.09 m. Her performance was considered as a world record, as a new type of javelin had been introduced in 1999. At the 2000 Summer Olympics she won the silver medal with a personal best of 67.51 m. She also won the bronze medal in 2004. Maniani is also a European champion and double world champion. Her personal best throw of 67.51 metres is the current Greek record.[3]

Personal life

Mirela Maniani married the weightlifter George Tzelilis in 1997, and became a Greek citizen. She was known as Mirela Maniani-Tzelili until 2002, when she divorced Tzelilis.

Achievements

Year Competition Venue Position Notes
Representing  Albania
1994 World Junior Championships Lisbon, Portugal 8th 52.22 m (old spec.)
European Championships Helsinki, Finland 22nd (q) 49.96 m (old spec.)
1995 World Championships Gothenburg, Sweden 12th 55.56 m
European Junior Championships Nyíregyháza, Hungary 2nd 59.36 m (old spec.)
1996 Olympic Games Atlanta, United States 24th (q) 55.64 m
Representing  Greece
1997 World Championships Athens, Greece 11th 61.02 m
1998 European Championships Budapest, Hungary 9th 58.65 m
1999 World Championships Seville, Spain 1st 67.09 m CR
2000 Olympic Games Sydney, Australia 2nd 67.51 m =NR
2001 World Championships Edmonton, Canada 2nd 65.78 m
2002 European Championships Munich, Germany 1st 67.47 m CR
2003 World Championships Paris, France 1st 66.52 m WL
2004 Olympic Games Athens, Greece 3rd 64.29 m

References

  1. Dizdar, Besnik (03.09.2007). "Vojsava Lika e Greqisë – fenomeni shqiptar i Osaka 2007". Zemrashqiptare. Mirela u bë Mirela, Kampione Botës dhe gjithçka tjetër, mbasi qe bërë Kampione e Ballkanit dhe Nënkampione e Evropës (për të rejat) me Shqipërinë, e deri te rekordi kombëtar zâmadh prej 62.46 metrash që Mirela na e la mbasi e kishte nënshkruar me dorën e saj për Shqipërinë në Alabama të SHBA – i vetmi rekord shqiptar i vendosur në tokën e amerikane; .... Mirela became Mirela, World Championa and everything else, after had become Balkans Champion and Silver medalist of Europe juniores for Albania, until her great record of 62.46m that Mirela donated us, after she had signed with her hand for Albania in Alabama of the United States: the only Albanian record made in American Land Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. List of Albania's flag bearers at the Olympic Games
  3. Greek all-time list, women - Athletix
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Cuba Osleidys Menéndez
Women's Javelin Best Year Performance
20022003
Succeeded by
Cuba Osleidys Menéndez
Olympic Games
Preceded by
Kristo Robo
Flagbearer for  Albania
Atlanta 1996
Succeeded by
Ilirian Suli
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, May 04, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.