Meltha Magazine Online

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1997, Volume 3, No.1(7) pages 6-7

OUR INTELLECTUALS

The Prince of Royal Regattas

Jimsher Khoshabaev

Athletics maintain not only Olympic ideals of peace, friendship and cooperation but also generate legends and their heroes alike. In all times people have felt pride for their national heroes. Love and devotion have always been given only to strong courageous, fearless, creative, zealous and noble athletes. And that is why we regret so much that our Diaspora which produced so many title winners not only spared them a sign of love and devotion, but even left them all behind. Among these fine athletes there are many World, Europe and Soviet Union title winners as well as many other Victorians in different world competitions. Instead, their names and their deeds well be used - as the best example to grow Assyrian, youth in best qualities ever known. We ~ intend to tell of every Assyrian hero. But we should like to start the chronicle with - an extremely modest and gentle man. When we were reading the list of his titles, we were just surprised to see this gray haired Hercules looked confused with a timid smile on his face as he was showing his diplomas and medals. And when we asked out his countrymen about him in his native place Kanda, they first and foremost spoke of his kindness and gentleness and only on some occasions they spoke of him as a repeated champion in canoe.

Jimsher Vladimirovich Khoshabaev "' was born in the village of Dzveli Kanda in the Mzheta district, Georgia, October 1, 1943. In the beautiful place where he was born there is a convergence of two mountainous rivers Aragvi and Kura so praised by Great Russian poet M. Yu. Lermontov. In his green years Jimsher liked to be by the water and at 14 he started to do some boating.

In 1960 Jimsher Khoshabaev finished high school and later the same year he joined the Georgia's national canoe team. In 1963-1971 he was a member of the USSR national team taking part in all major world competitions. In 1965 Jim- sher Khoshabaev was awarded with the USSR title of «Master of Sports of Inter- national Level».

It is very difficult to mention all his titles and awards. As a matter of fact, he made a lot of events every time he raced in single or in pairs, alone or on the set in relay 5x500m as well as he did both 1000 and 10000m distances. Being a champion of Georgian Republic he also made the top title at the USSR Armed Forces tournament in 1963. The following years he kept his title. In 1965, 1966 and 1968 he won the USSR champion- ships. His highest point was in 1965 when Jimsher won the European title and both Danish Royal and Check Regattas alike. The following year Jimsher won the Danish event again. A year later he took the Swedish Royal Regatta as well. In those years J .Khoshabaev also won first titles in Moscow and Leningrad races. In 1968 he participated in the Olympic Week in Mexico where he raced in various events and WOi1 different titles. The last major title he won in his very high athletic life was in the International Regatta named after Julia Rjabchinsky in 1973.

In 1964 to 1968 Jimsher Khoshabaev studied at the Institute of' Physical, culture, and sports, in Tbilisi. After the Institute he launched his teaching career, and from 1970 to 1990 he was the chief coach of the canoe national team of Georgia.

Last summer we happened to meet Jimsher Khoshabaev during Mar Zaya holidays in the village of Dzveli Kanda. A very handsome man, still strongly built, with the legendary biography, he simply was standing aside as he enjoyed watching people dancing, and singing around. There is one more feature that can be curious as far as we understand

Sometimes we happen to hear loud and pompous words of love for the nation but in fact such nationalists very of- ten might be indifferent to their own people's destiny or even despise them and refuse to accept their originality. But luckily there also might be the other way around.

It is obvious that every state tries to bring first and foremost its own national specialists onto the international scale. Actually it is quite understood and even justified in many cases. Jimsher Khoshabaev was advised many times to change his to a Georgian name. Probably it is a trifle thing for someone else but him. And besides, where is that Assyria which could be proud of its sons like Khoshabaev? But such heroes will apparently stay out of any dirty tricks or mud splashed on their white clothes. So his family name is highly reputed through him among Assyrians to the latter day indeed.