Artur Aleksanyan, who inspired us with his many victories over the past few years, is preparing for his second Olympiad.
Mediamax Sport met the Greco-Roman wrestler and presents the interview with him.
- Artur, you’re taking part in the Olympic Games for the 2nd time. What changed in your life in four years since the previous Olympiad?
- I’m more mature as a sportsman, and I have more achievements now. I became 3-times European and 2-times World champion, gained more confidence.
- Why are the Olympic Games different from other competitions for sportsmen?
- Perhaps, because they’re held once in four years and draw everyone’s attention every time.
- What has to happen for you to miss a training?
- I haven’t missed a single training in a few years now. I usually don’t plan anything on the training hours.
Photo: Mediamax
- Don’t you get tired of similar exercises and the routine?
- I won’t lie, sometimes I do, of course. However, a 15-day vacation at a beach gives me a full recovery and charges me for work.
- If you were Brazilian, what sport would you go into?
- Definitely football. I would be a striker or a left midfielder.
- What virus raged in Brazil recently?
- Ziko, or Zika virus. I was ready to go to Rio in any circumstances, because this is the Olympiad I shouldn’t miss (laughs - edit.).
- Name the Armenian wrestler who inspires you the most.
- When I was little, I was fascinated with the fights of Roman Amoyan, Vaghinak Galstyan and Yuri Patrikeyev. I saw Armen Nazaryan on the mat, and I liked his style very much.
Photo: Mediamax
- What do you think makes wrestling different from other sports?
- Wrestling teaches to fight, strive, not give up in difficult situations.
- Why should wars stop?
- I don’t know who doesn’t want world peace. I wish Azerbaijan would realize finally that peace is the most important thing. Artsakh has always been and will always be our land, and we’ll never surrender anything to them.
- If you could to do an interview with famous athletes, who would it be?
- Titled Aleksandr Karelin, three-time Olympic champion Buvaisar Saitiev, Rafael Nadal, and Mike Tyson.
- What question would you ask them?
- I would ask what motivated them in sport and helped them stay at the top.
- What will you answer if I ask you that same question?
Photo: Mediamax
- I’m motivated by bringing victories to our nation and showing the world that although Armenia is a small country, it has strong athletes and a great sport history.
- What is your favourite place in Gyumri?
- I feel good everywhere in Gyumri, all I need is to be in my town.
- You keep gaining more achievements, but you don’t change.
- Being a good person comes first for me, that’s how I was raised.
- Which character feature of yours do you dislike?
- I’m probably shy. I grew more confident in time, I was very shy when I was little, but sometimes I feel that feature gets in the way again (laughs - edit.).
- Artur, finish the sentences. You don’t like giving interview, because…
Photo: Mediamax
- they take a lot of time.
- You’re going to your 2nd Olympiad and you…
- hope that I will make everyone very happy.
- What you like the best in our national anthem is…
- the “Our homeland, free and independent” part.
- For you, wrestling is…
- Life. I’ve been living wrestling for 17 years already.
Hasmik Babayan talked to Artur Aleksanyan
Photos by Emin Aristakesyan
The partner of the project 
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