Date of birth: 22.07.1995, Yerevan
Sport: Greco-Roman style wrestling (67kg weight category)
Education: Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture
Personal coach: Samvel Gevorgyan
Family: Single
Start of career: 12 years old, Norayr Musheghyan Sports School
Photo: Mediamax
Choice of sport: “The Sports School was close to our house and my brother was already going there, so one day he just took me with him. I loved the training, especially the active way everyone moved and the competition. The mat was soft, and we just kept jumping on it.”
The road to professional sport: “With time, I noticed that I was quite good at wrestling. At 5 years old I realized I wanted to train professionally.”
Debut: “First, I competed in the Youth Championship of Armenia. I was a year young than others in my age group. I finished third that time. Of course, the tension and my inexperience played a role. It is with time that you understand there was no reason to be so nervous, and others are wrestlers just like you. You make mistakes, you lose, then you work on yourself, and finally, you win.”
Photo: Mediamax
The training: “I believe an athlete needs a strict routine, stability, and huge patience. Sometimes you get tired of everything and you need someone to talk to, and for me, my coaches are the people to talk.”
Photo: Mediamax
Joining the national team: “I won the Armenian Championship in late 2013 and got into the senior team. I was so happy about it, but I also felt huge responsibility. I was training in the same hall with champions and medalists of European and World championships, Olympic Games… I dreamed I would have the same success one day.”
Photo: Mediamax
The first international tournament: “Back in the junior team, I competed in the European Championship and beat an experience wrestler. That is when I felt confident about trying to join the senior team.”
The Greco-Roman wrestling team: “Globally, our national team is very strong, thanks to our coaches. They are wonderful professionals and people, and they instill similar qualities in us so that we grow and become better people and better athletes.”
Photo: Mediamax
Favorite sport: “For over 15 years, I have dedicated my life to wrestling. I cannot imagine myself without it, but I want to be able to stop at the right time.”
Keep learning: “Defeat makes me very angry, but it also makes me think of what I did wrong, what I have to change. After my first bronze medal in the European Championship, in 2018, I felt very happy. However, I finished third again next year, and again the year after that. I have made my conclusions and I am ready to compete for a different medal.”
Photo: Mediamax
Toward the qualification tournament: “I did not think of the qualification. All I wanted was to fight till the end when I am on the mat, that is why I was not nervous at all. Of course, we were all happy about the qualification, but the joy wasn’t full because other guys could have gotten it too.”
The first Olympics: “I don’t focus on the fact that this tournament is Olympic. Yes, this is my first Games, but I am not focusing on that. God gives both victories and defeats, so I cannot say what will happen. I only know that I will fight till the end and I will not give up.”
Photo: Mediamax
The goal for Tokyo: “Of course, I want to get the gold.”
The 2021 Games: “The Games are organized at a very high level. We won’t attend the opening and closing ceremonies, but they are going to be beautiful.”
Photo: Mediamax
The importance of victory: “Our objective is to win and make our people happy. It will give people hope that we can have big victories.”
Karen Aslanyan won bronze demals at the 2018, 2019 and 2020 European Championships.
Gohar Nalbandyan
Photos: Emin Aristakesyan
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