Henri Kuprashvili

Henry Kuprashvili (born 13 September, 1946, Khashuri, Georgia), is a Georgian Swimmer

File:Henry Kuprashvili Chokha.jpg

Henry Kuprashvili in national suit Chokha

File:Henry Kuprashvili Bosphorus 2005.jpg

Henry Kuprashvili Bosphorus 2005

Kuprashvilli is known for being the first Human in history to swim the Dardanelles Straight, from Europe to Asia with his hands and feet bound in four places following the Georgian military-training style. Leading up to the big event Kuprashvili went through a vigorous traning schedule, part of this training included a 2 kilometer swim at "Laguana Vere". On January 28, 2001 Kuprashvili completed this swim in 92 minutes using the same military-training swimming style.

The mainstream media was very interested in these events and there was extensive media coverage from several media outlets including CNN,Reuters, Associated Press, BBC, RIA Novosti, ITAR-TASS and other agencies.

As mentioned in Mass media reports, Henry kuprashvili has:

• "Revived" Georgian swimming (Georgian style of swimming), so he has initiated the study and development of unique, Kolkhian-Iberian method of swimming (Georgian swimming consists of 8 styles: “Free Kolkhuri” (Colchis), the same as ‘Lazuri” (Lazica), Military-training style “Hands and feet bound Kolkhuri”, “Iberiuli” (Iberian), “Apkazuri” (Abkhazian), “Okribula”, Kiziquri, Khashuruli and Takhvia);
• Founded the new method of swimming Across straits.
• Held the World record in new style of swimming.
• Wrote the first textbook about the methods of studying national styles of swimming.
• Created the complex of special trainings for studying Georgian styles of swimming.

Mass media denoted that the fact of swimming across the Dardanelles Strait using “Hands and feet bound Kolkhuri” was the event that:

• Developed an absolutely new special psychological attitude. It is known that a human being, with his hands and feet bound firmly to the body, while in the water is instinctively exposed to the blind fear of death. However, in the third millennium, the “human-dolphin” managed to change this instinct and eliminate the feat syndrome.
• Changed the human perception of swimming and partly even challenged the parable according to which a drowning man implores God for help and gets the answer to move his hands and to be saved.
• Showed the people, burdened with different problems – a human should never give up, no matter how tightly his/her hands and feet are bound. A way can always be found out of a seemingly desperate situation and that the most important thing is to retain faith in God and moral strength.

The records man is ready to swim across Bosphorus Strait, Gibraltar Strait and the English Channel using the same style of swimming with his pupils.

The mass swimming competition using “Hands and feet bound Kolkhuri” among young swimmers, trained by Henry Kuprashvili was held on September 3, 2006 at Tbilisi reservoir (“Tbilisi Sea”). The first place at this unexampled competition was taken by 12 years old swimmer Irakli Shengelia (he overpowered 3 500 meters distance in 40 minutes and 47 seconds. 13 years old Nastia Grivach took the second place (46.11.00), the third place was taken by 11 years old Nino Basilaia and 12 years old Ani Sichinava (57.54.00).

The second traditional group competition of “Tbilisi Sea” using “Hands and feet bound Kolkhuri” was held on August 30, 2007. The first place was taken by 13 years old Irakli Shengelia (37.53.00), who had improved his last result. The second place was taken by Dato Bardavelidze (51.17.00), the third – Temur Kobakhidze (53.03.00), the fourth – Tika Bakuradze (57.23.00), the fifth – Ani Sichinava (57.58.00). The competition was dedicated to this fifth anniversary after Henry Kuprashvili’s swimming across the Dardanelles Strait.

At the same time, Prof. Dr. Henry Kuprashvili is also:

Historian, Journalist, Political science educators, the Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor of the sub-faculty of Politology and International Relations at the Georgian Technical University, Coach;

Lieutenant colonel;

The founder and the chairman of the Union “The Saint David the builder’s union of Chokhawearers – Chokhawearers 1973”;

The initiator of the Seaside Guardians Association of Aeetes and the Chairman till today,

He has been awarded a medal for “Courage” (1993), the Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali Second Class (2002) and the golden medal of George Byron.

The Marshall Center alumni.

The member of Georgia Journalists’ association.

The member of Georgia Sport Society “Dinamo”.

The Chief of Division Coordination of Special Communications and Information Agency of Georgia.

The rank of a military official and increase of qualification

• In 2003 by the Order of the President of Georgia (# 1299) he was given the rank of First Class State Advisor.
• Mr. Kuprashvili has defended his candidate’s thesis on the topic “The geopolitical status of Georgia and priorities in Foreign policy” (1999) and Doctoral thesis on topic “Informational Politics in the process of political modernization” (2003).
• He has attended the high management Courses for increasing qualification level in Cairo, Egypt (1995).
• In addition, he took part in senior courses at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Germany (2000).
• About formation of Georgia’s economical security politics (synthesis environment of security modeling). The second Symposium “Georgia – dialogue 2000” at USA-European staff and Defense Analysis Institute.

The spheres of scientific researches

the originality of Informational politics in the Informational epoch, Information society, the Informational-analitical technologies, National security, International relations, External policy, national-liberation motion.

He has inculcate in into scientific practic

At the National Security Council of Georgia he created the system of strategic analysis and global modeling “Didgori”, the program “Aisi” for analysis and prognosis of political events with the help of Politimetric method.

Office career

• Between 1968-2006 he worked at the Georgian Technical University as a Senior preparator, assistant, Senior assistant, Senior lecturer, Deputy Chairman of the trade union committee, associate professor. Professor of the sub-faculty of Politology and International relations at the Georgian Technical University.
• Between 1977–1979 he worked at the Tbilisi City Committee of People’s Control, as chairperson of the methodology seminar.
• Between 1989-1992 He worked for the Popular Front of Georgia, as head of the Department, assistant for the Chairman.
• From March 1992 to December 1992 – as Responsible Secretary of the Special Governmental

Commission on Tskhinvali Region Problems at the Cabinet of Ministers of Georgia.

• Between 1992-1996 he was a Head of the Service of Control of the tasks assigned by the

President and relations with State management bodies, Chief State Advisor.

• Between 1996-2004 – He worked at of the Office of the National Security Council of Georgia as a Head Of the Information–Analytical Service; the Director of Department of Monitoring, Analysis Security and Information; Chief of the Information Analysis Department.
• From 2005 till present he is The Chief of Coordination Division of Governmental Special Communications and Information Agency of Georgia.

Coordinator

from Georgian side, of the seminar “The coordination of reforms in public sector: the improvement of business and the fight against corruption”. 9–10 October 1997. The organizers were World Bank and the Government of Georgia (he has accepted the letter of thenk from the Washington Bank office).

Other data

Between 1996-2002 he was the representative of Georgia to Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member countries’ information coordination council.

Wife Ludmila Kovalets-Kuprashvili, children: Beka, Tsira, Tamar, Mariam.

Grandfather, Luka Kuprashvili (born in 1896 village Tsutskhvati, Tkibuli region), perished in 1924, while Georgian military rebellion against the Bolshevik Russia. Father, Otar Kuprashvili (1924-1974) – was the commissioner of the State Philarmony. Mother, Nora Lapiashvili, born in 1925.

At first time in 1967, while serving in the Soviet army and then while working in Polytechnical Institute of Georgia (1975) he was given a notice for thinking differently, Dissident inclinations and spreading illegal literature by USSR Committee for State Security (KGB).

Presidents about Henry Kuprashvili

Mikheil Saakashvili President of Georgia

Your “Kurieri” has began for me with performance of Henry Kuprashvili’s very respectable and interesting personality, who plans to swim from Asia to Europe by old Georgian military-training style, with his hands and feet bound.

August 21, 2002, Night Courier, Broadcasting corporation Rustavi 2

Eduard Shevardnadze President of Georgia

To Mr. Henry Kuprashvili Dear Henry, I am cordially delighted about your success, which has turned into a remarkable event in the social life of our country. Revival of national traditions is an enviable undertaking and worthy of imitation. The more so that, from this point of view, in the epoch of globalization traditions faces many threats. You demonstrated your attitude towards the country, your courage and selflessness during the Abkhazian war, where you fought with merit for the territorial integrity and independence of your fatherland. The swimming of the Dardanelles is profoundly symbolic as well, - historically Georgia developed at the boundary of Europe and Asia, i.e., creating a bridge connecting the continents. And your success demonstrates that Georgia, the Georgian phenomenon is still capable of performing its function. I wish you good health, family happiness and future triumphs.

Newspaper Saqartvelos respublika. #213, september 04, 2002

Video

• In reuters
• zwemmen als een dolfijn
• CNN

References

Hero of the Dardanelles: Seven Unique Developments. 2003. Editor-in-Chief: Prof.Doc. O. Gogiashvili. Tbilisi, Media-Holding "Georgian Times", Text on Georgian, English, and Rusian languages UDC:796.092.2 + 797.2(479.22).[1]

Shakarashvili M. Georgia Searches for Stolen Golden Fleece at the Doorstep of Europe. “Georgia Today”, Issue #351, 6.04.2007

Strelkova R. To Wear or not to Wear (a Chokha)? That is the Question. “Georgia Today”, Issue #372, 31.08.2007

Kuprashvili H. 2005. Georgian swimming. Textbook. second publishing, Kutaisi State University, Kutaisi, ISBN 99940-0-561-8 UDC:797.2.034.2(479.22) + 797.2(075) [2]

Kuprashvili H. 2004. Georgian swimming. Textbook. Tbilisi, ISBN 99940-0-190-6. UDC: 797.2.034.2(479.22) + 797.2(075) [3]

Scientific effort and Publications

• Abstracts, Scientific publications, Conferences, symposiums,Publications
• [4], [5]

Person of the Year 2002 - the favourite one of the journalists:

As the winners of the nomination Person of the Year 2002 was announced Henry Kuprashvili

Newspaper Akhali epoqa, #75, December 27, 2002-January 9, 2003

Henry Kuprashvili in ratings

• THE MAN OF THE WORLD OF THE YEAR 2002 - the results of the rate of readers:

1. George W. Bush – 42%

2. Usama Bin Laden – 12%

3. George Kandelaki – 9%

4. Ronaldo – 7%

5. Vladimir Putin – 6%

6. Henry Kuprashvili– 4%

7. Jumber Lezhava = 4%

8. Sadam Husein – 3%

9. Jim Carter – 2%

10. Peter Shou – 1%

Newspaper Kviris Palitra, #52, December 30, 2002

• THE MOST CHEERFUL EVENT IN GEORGIA OF THE YERR 2002– the results of the rate of readers:

1. The winning of the Georgian Rugby players team – 38%

2. The winning of George Kandelaki– 29%

3. The fact of swimming Dardanelles strait with Kolkhuri swimming style by Henry Kuprashvili– 6%

4-5. Knocking on NATO’s door – 3%

4-5. The return of Jumber Lezhava – 3%

Newspaper Kviris Palitra, #1, December 12, 2002

• THE MOST DESIRABLE PRESIDENT - the results of the rate of readers of the yaer 2003:

1. Mikheil Saakashvili – 19.6%

2. Shalva Natelashvili– 18.2%

3. Nino Burdjanadze – 18.0% და სხვა

There were named unusual Georgians too... Henry Kuprashvili...

Newspaper Kviris Palitra #21, May 26, 2003

• The Most Exceptional Georgians - the results of the rate of readers:

1. Vakhtang Rcheulishvili – 14.5%

2. Mikheil Saakashvili – 9.6%

3. Shalva Natelashvili – 5.1%

4. Utsnobi – 5.1%

5. Eduard Shevardnadze – 3.9%

6. Kote Kubaneishvili – 3.7%

7. Irina Sarishvili-Chanturia - 2.9%

8. Henry Kuprashvili – 2.2%

9. Jumber Lezhava – 2.0%

10-12. Maka Asatiani – 1.7%

10-12. Bidzina Ivanishvili – 1.7%

10-12. Badri Patarkatsishvili – 1.7%

Newspaper Kviris palitra, #19, May 12. 2003

Further reading

• Colchian-Iberian style of swimming
• Photo Gallery
• Links to other Record Breaking Sites
• The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy
• International Black Sea University
• Information Technology Prospects in the Caucasus 1st ISN Executive
• Conference Agenda and list of speakers
• Mediafaxfoto
• georgiatoday
• cultradio
• Marshall Center
• Sport
• Times Online
• Kaukasus
• Open Society … Georgia Foundation
• Canarias7
• Kan du svømme som dette? | ABC Nyheter
• Russia on the Net
• Georgiano cruzará el Bósforo a nado con piernas y brazos atados
• Noticias 132