Armen Nazaryan has an important role in both Armenian and international wrestling history. His fights were always worth watching and the victories were impressive.
Mediamax Sport presents Olympic Games, Europe and World champion Armen Nazaryan’s important achievements in its “Unforgettable victory” series.
I trained in very hard and difficult times and had to sacrifice a lot of things. I was performing in USSR team, then, after independence I started presenting our country. It took an incredible belief and confidence in your own strength to keep doing sports back then.
Elementary things that the sportsmen needed didn’t exist. I kept telling myself that the best was yet to come. I grew up with good sportsmen and wanted to be like them one day.
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My career was indeed crazy: I got every possible medal-23 medals in adults’ tournaments which make me very proud.
But nothing compares to my gold medal in the Olympic Games. I went to Atlanta to show my best qualities in 1996 and my highest priority was to show impressive performance in each fight and never give up. But I could perform better than I thought I would.
I easily could win all my opponents and was in finals. I had a fight with Brandon Paulson (USA) in finals that I had lost to a couple of months before. This time he couldn’t do the same and I won with a big score- 10-0. The referee was doing everything to give him the victory but I was very strong and won.
I was very excited after this fight and couldn’t resist my tears. I could fulfill my childhood dream for what I had worked a lot. I couldn’t be happier than that.
All my wishes came true that day. I couldn’t believe that it was all happening to me. I was very proud that I could win a big and important medal for Armenia.
My victory reminded me of my loses as well. I twice lost the possibility of becoming the world champion. I couldn’t forget about that even after becoming Olympic champion. They served me for good as well. I knew how bitter they were and was trying to avoid those situations with all my strength.
Although being a person is more important to me than victories. I always wanted to perform to the best of my abilities and I think I succeeded. Thanks to me our small country became known in the world. I’m happy that there is a strong generation of wrestlers in our country nowadays and they are continuing our job.
Hasmik Babayan recalled the victory with Armen Nazaryan
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