Date of birth: 17.02.1997, Haykashen
Sport: Weightlifting (109kg weight category)
Personal coach: Ashot Pilosyan
Education: Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture; currently enrolled in Master’s program, Armenian State University of Economics
Photo: Mediamax
Family: Single
Choice of sport: “I did boxing for a short while. One day our neighbor Arshak, who did weightlifting, suggested taking me to train at the Jrarat training hall. That suggestion changed my life. I agreed immediately, went to the hall, and I lifted a heavy bar without prior training.”
Photo: Mediamax
Loving weightlifting: “I liked weightlifting from the beginning and only more ever since. The heavier weight I lifted, the more excited I got. Contrary to many other children, I did not get disheartened when the coaches criticized me a lot. I knew they were doing it for my benefit.”
A key win: “My key win was the gold medal in the Youth World Championship. It was the happiest moment of my career. I was 16 and it was my first gold medal. The other time I was as happy was in the Rio Olympics, when I won the silver, and in 2019, when I became World champion.”
Photo: Mediamax
A junior on the senior team: “When I was a little boy, I wanted to be strong, active, and to be athletic when I grow up. I never imagined myself achieving that through a profession. I made the senior team at the age of 17, and it took me out of my small world.”
Maturing as a weightlifter: “In that environment, I grew and matured as a weightlifter very much, especially compared to my peers. I started thinking differently, became more purposeful.”
Photo: Mediamax
Rio Olympics: “It was time to show my real strength, and that moment coincided with the Olympic Games. If they took place a year earlier, I would have performed even better. Nevertheless, the silver medal encouraged me so much. It made me train harder.”
Being the best: “I can tell from my training sessions that I’m going to be the best in my weight category. The many gold medals I have won oblige and pressure me, because everyone anticipates only victory, nothing else is acceptable. However, the latest European Championship showed that anything can happen in sport. I hadn’t recovered fully from an injury, and it hindered me.”
Photo: Mediamax
A moment of clarity: “I made conclusions from that tournament. The key one is that I have to dedicate myself 100% to training. Perhaps, I underestimated the importance of the tournament. The defeat had a positive impact too, because it sobered me up.”
The psychological aspect: “For every athlete, the biggest competitor is themselves. Mentality plays a particularly big part in our sport, you need to be able to control yourself and keep doubt at bay. Confidence comes from your form and your strength.”
Photo: Mediamax
The road to Tokyo: “It took its time. The war (the 44-day war for Artsakh – Mediamax Sport) was especially tough on us all. It’s impossible to forget it, but I want to move forward with faith and with conviction that all will be fine. Now, we need every victory we can get to ease our burden.”
The second Olympics: “I only aim for the gold this time. In 2016, I just wanted a medal, and now, I want to be the champion.”
Photo: Mediamax
2021 Games: “It will be my second visit to Tokyo. I won my second Junior World Championship there. It’s a wonderful city, and the people are nice. There are murals of anime characters on buildings, so I associate Japan with them.”
Armenia’s Olympic team: “I know almost all members of our Olympic team from the previous Olympics, the University Games, or training camps. I wish success to all my teammates.”
Photo: Mediamax
Medalist of the 2014 Youth Olympic Games
Silver medalist of the 2016 Olympic Games
Bronze medalist of the 2016 European Championship, winner of the 2017 and 2019 European Championships
Winner of the 2018 and 2019 World Championships
World and Europe record holder
Second-class Medal of Services to the Motherland
Gohar Nalbandyan
Photos: Emin Aristakesyan
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