Date of birth: 07.08.1993, Gyumri
Sport: Greco-Roman style wrestling (77kg weight category)
Family: Single
Education: M. Nalbandyan State University of Shirak
Photo: Mediamax
Personal coach: Artur Petrosyan
Start of career: Chalyan started training at the age of 9.
Choice of sport: “My friends practiced wrestling and suggested I should try too. I really wanted to go into sports; the sport school was close to my house, so it was a convenient way. One day I went there with friends and started training.”
Debut: 2005-06 youth championships, Armenia
Photo: Mediamax
Before the match: “I prepare myself mentally and think only of the victory. I am nervous on the day of the match, but it is a familiar feeling and there is no way to avoid it. However, as soon as I get on the mat, the nervousness is gone and I am fully focused.”
After victory and defeat: “In case of either, I think about my mistakes and try to fix them. Of course, victory greatly improves the mood, but I make mistakes in the matches I win too. Defeat gives me a bad feeling and I try to overcome it quickly in order to prepare for the next competition.”
The most impressive win: “I won the gold in the World Junior Championship. I had good matches, and I was proud that my work paid off.”
Photo: Mediamax
The qualification: “I earned it in the 2019 World Championship, in which I finished 5th. It was one of the most difficult, painful competitions for me, because I had a chance of reaching the final and winning.”
Olympic Games: “These are my first Olympic Games, so there will be some nervousness. Olympics are the most important competition, so I must perform well.”
The long wait: “The Games were postponed because of the pandemic, so our dreams are coming true later than we expected. I think it has made everyone anticipate the Games even more.”
Photo: Mediamax
The goal for Tokyo: “There is just one goal – come back to Armenia with a gold medal. That is the purpose we train hard for.”
The Games: “Only Olympic.”
Photo: Mediamax
Armenia’s Olympic team: “I know all the athletes that have made the team. They are strong and ready to give a good performance in Tokyo. I am certain each of us will go for the win.”
Photo: Mediamax
The importance of victory: “After what our nation has had to endure (the 2020 war in Artsakh where many Armenians fought – Mediamax Sport), people need victories. We are doing everything we can to meet our people’s expectations.
Bronze medalist of the U23 European Championship, 2015
Bronze medalist of European championships of 2016 and 2020
Silver medalist of the 2019 European Games
Gohar Nalbandyan
Photos: Emin Aristakesyan
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