Georgia’s Vladimir Khinchegashvili, known to some as King Vlad, others prefer the abbreviated “Khinche”, has an all-time great resume at 57 kg.
After winning back-to-back Junior World titles in 2010 and 2011, Vlad began his ascension to the top at the senior level. By 2014, he had arrived, winning silver at the senior World Championships.
In 2015, he planted his flag with a gold medal in Las Vegas. He was poised to cement his status as one of the best of the era by the time the Rio Olympics rolled around in 2016. On his way to the finals he took out now two-time World medalist Nurislam Sanayev, a transfer from Russia, then Haji Aliyev - a three-time World champion.