Updated February 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET — Interest in the country of Georgia is growing among figure skating fans, and Luka Berlava’s name is increasingly associated with the topic. As the world’s attention returns to Olympic skating, questions about where Georgia is located and what makes it unique have accompanied coverage of the sport.
Why Georgia is in the skating spotlight
This season’s figure skating coverage has spotlighted performances from smaller federations, prompting viewers to ask which country the athletes represent. After a remarkable display on the ice caught the attention of skaters with ties to the country, the new focus extended to Georgia.
Georgia is in a period of transition both geographically and culturally. It is located on the eastern edge of what is generally considered Europe and on the western edge of Asia, bordering large neighboring countries to the north and south. In international sports, Georgia competes with European countries in many fields, which shapes the perception of its identity in competitions such as figure skating.
Where is Luca Berlava suited?
Luka Berlava is a Georgian figure skater whose name has surfaced in the national conversation surrounding Olympic skating. For fans exposed to the country for the first time through coverage of skaters, Bellava serves as a recognizable link to Georgia’s presence on the ice.
While headlines often focus on standout performances by a few skaters, athletes like Berlava help expand the story beyond the powerhouse nations. Their participation highlights that Olympic and international figure skating are becoming more geographically widespread, bringing new national stories and new questions from viewers into the mix.
What fans need to know about the country behind the skater
The country of Georgia has its own language and alphabet. Georgian is the main language and its script is unique within the region. Georgia was part of the Soviet Union until the early 1990s, so Russian is still spoken by some residents, and the use of English is increasing as international involvement increases.
Geography and language often determine how audiences interpret an athlete’s nationality. For many fans, understanding that Georgia is an independent country with a long cultural history helps them understand why Georgian athletes compete under its flag and why its athletes’ backgrounds differ from those of neighboring countries.
As international figure skating continues to showcase talent from a wider range of countries, names like Luca Berlava will encourage more viewers to learn about the countries represented on the ice. That curiosity could deepen fan engagement and expand the story surrounding Olympic sports beyond the familiar powerhouses.
Expect the conversation to continue. The combination of memorable performances and an increasingly global field means that national identities – geographical, linguistic and cultural – remain part of the story as the competition unfolds.