Kharchilava came to the United States in 1991 from the country of Abkhazia, which was formerly a part of the Soviet Union . Before arriving in America , he was a member of the Soviet National team from 1985 to 1991. He won the Soviet Junior National Championship at 149.5 pounds in 1986. Kharchilava was a silver medalist at the Medved International in 1989 and the Soviet University National Champion at 163 pounds in 1990. Since his arrival in the U.S. in 1991, Kharchilava has won the Michigan Open (1992), Sunkist International (1992) and was the U.S. Open International Champion (1994). In 1992 Kharchilava was extended a special invitation to train at the Olympic Training Camp at the Foxcatcher Farms. He also was invited to the 1993 World Team Camp in Colorado Springs . Kharchilava counts among his victories, wins over Nate Carr (1988 Olympic bronze medalist), Matt Demaray (U.S. World team member), Pat Santoro (two-time NCAA champion and currently Head Coach at University of Maryland), Casey Cunningham (1997 NCAA Div 1 Champ and current assistant coach at Central Michigan University), and Troy Sunderland (NCAA champion and current head coach at Penn State ).  Kharchilava finished first at 152 in the Northeast Regional in Brockport , N.Y. , and the New York International before placing third at the Dave Schultz International in 2001. His third-place finish qualified him for the World Team Trials where he finished in the Top 5. Kharchilava was able to compete in the trials for the United States after gaining his citizenship only three days earlier.