Mirela Maniani
Personal information | |
---|---|
Nationality | Greek |
Born |
December 21, 1976 (age 39) Durrës, Albania |
Spouse(s) |
George Tzelilis (1997–2002) Giannis Skoutelas (2004-2006) Giannis Giannoulis (2009-14) |
Achievements and titles | |
Personal best(s) | 67.51 m (2000) NR |
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
Medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Women's athletics | ||
Representing ![]() | ||
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. Maniani has one daughter from his third wedding with the Greek basketball player Giannis Giannoulis.[4]
Achievements
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Representing ![]() | ||||
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 ![]() | ||||
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
- Mirela Maniani profile at IAAF
- ↑ 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 Champion and everything else, after she 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) - ↑ List of Albania's flag bearers at the Olympic Games
- ↑ Greek all-time list, women Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine. - Athletix
- ↑
Sporting positions | ||
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Preceded by![]() |
Women's Javelin Best Year Performance 2002–2003 |
Succeeded by![]() |
Olympic Games | ||
Preceded by Kristo Robo |
Flagbearer for ![]() Atlanta 1996 |
Succeeded by Ilirian Suli |