Mirela Maniani
Mirela Maniani is a Greek retired track and field athlete who competed in the javelin throw. She was named the Greek [Female Athlete of the Year] for 2003.
Life and athletic achievements
Albania
Maniani was born as Mirela Manjani on 21 December 1976 in Durrës, People's [Socialist Republic of Albania|Albania]. In 1996, at the University of Alabama she set a new Albanian national record at 62.46 m. She represented Albania at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, USA and Athletics at the [1996 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|ranked 24th overall]. During the competition she was also Albania's flag bearer.Greece
After marrying a Greek citizen, the weightlifter Georgios Tzelilis, she received Greek citizenship and represented Greece at the World Championships in Athletics">1999 World Championships in Athletics">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 Women's [javelin throw world record progression|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 Athletics at the [2004 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|2004]. Maniani is also a European champion and double world champion. Her personal best throw of 67.51 metres is the current Greek record.Maniani joined the Hellenic Navy in 1999.