Mirela Maniani

Mirela Maniani (Greek: Μιρέλα Μανιάνι, [miˈrela maˈɲani], 21 December 1976) is a retired Greek track and field athlete who competed in the javelin throw. Prior to 1997, she represented Albania.

Mirela Maniani
Personal information
Birth nameMirela Manjani
NationalityGreek
Born21 December 1976 (1976-12-21) (age 44)
Durrës, Albania
Spouse(s)George Tzelilis (1997–2002)
Giannis Skoutelas (2004–06)
Giannis Giannoulis (2009-14)
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)NR 67.51 m (2000)
Updated on 18 May 2015.

Life and athletic achievements

Maniani was born Mirela Manjani on 21 December 1976 in Durrës, Albania. In 1996, at the University of Alabama she set a new Albanian national record at 62.46 m (as of 2017, 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]

Maniani joined the Greek Navy in 1999.[4]

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 her third wedding with the Greek basketball player Giannis Giannoulis.[5]

International competitions

YearCompetitionVenuePositionNotes
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 (2007-09-03). "Vojsava Lika e Greqisë – fenomeni shqiptar i Osaka 2007". Zemrashqiptare. Mirela Manjani u bë Kampione Botës nen drejtimin e trajnerit Durrsak Enver Mysja qysh ne moshe te re atehere kur ajo ishte vetem 16 vjece dhe 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 Manjani became World Champion under trained from Albanian Coach Enver Mysja since when she was 16 years old. 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
  2. List of Albania's flag bearers at the Olympic Games
  3. Greek all-time list, women Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine - Athletix
  4. "Είχα στα μάτια μου τη σημαία - ΤΑ ΝΕΑ". ΤΑ ΝΕΑ (in Greek). 30 August 1999. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Osleidys Menéndez
Women's Javelin Best Year Performance
2002–2003
Succeeded by
Osleidys Menéndez
Olympic Games
Preceded by
Kristo Robo
Flagbearer for  Albania
Atlanta 1996
Succeeded by
Ilirian Suli
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