Club “Leon” was established in 2022 in Poti, Maltakva district.
Maltakva district has been the center of development of water sports (kayaking, rowing) for more than half a century.
In the past, Poti and Maltakva were hosting athletes from the then Soviet Union during the winter, it was a training base during the winter period.
Yuri Tiukalov, the first Olympic champion in rowing from the former Soviet Union, and Vyacheslav Ivanov, the three-time Olympic champion, were training themselves in Poti. Olympic champion Viktor Kratasyuk grew up in Poti.
Poti has unique climatic and geographical conditions for water sports.
In winter average temperature is +12, in summer average temperature is +30.
Geographical conditions: The port city Poti, located on the Black Sea coast, is surrounded and crossed by the River Rioni, the largest and most waterlogged river in Georgia, Paliastomi Lake, Kaparchina River, Dedabera River.
During the winter, the sandy beach and the warm sea create excellent conditions for the development of coastal rowing.
The Aims of the Club “Leon”
- Raising the qualification of sportsmen
- Raising young sportsmen
We have a gym, equipped with rowing simulators. We have heavy athletics and gymnasiums, a sufficient number of boats, oars, three cutters, training facilities, elling.
Coaching staff and support:
- Yuri Bondarenko, the Honored Coach of Ukraine
- Roland Koepke, the Honored Coach of Germany.
Yuri Bondarenko works with athletes on a daily basis, Roland Koepke is the author of athlete training software.
We have a dining room and a hotel for the sportsmen.
Meals in the dining room are considered for sports loads.
We can receive and host groups of athletes for sport assemblies.