Armenian weightlifters to strive to repeat European championship success at Rio-2016

The weightlifting teams returned to Armenia tonight from Førde, Norway.

Armenian weightlifters won 8 gold, 7 silver and 3 bronze medals at European championship, taking the first place by team score.

Mediamax Sport talked with head coaches of men’s and women’s teams.

Head coach of men’s team Pashik Alaverdyan

Our athletes performed well at European championship. We could take two more medals, but Smbat Margaryan (56 kg) and Ruben Aleksanyan (+105 kg) didn’t participate in the championship due to traumas. Their traumas aren’t serious, but we decided to let them recover completely. Substitute athletes performed fine as well and helped in team score.

Our primary goal now is to perform well at Olympic Games. We should work so that our athletes improve their European championship results by around 5-10 kg, that will allow them to compete for medals.

The athletes will rest for several days, then we’ll hold a training in Tsaghkadzor. We’ll keep training in Armenia, then leave for Georgia in summer to take into the team Armenian athletes who’ll participate in Youth World Championship in Tbilisi on June 26 - July 2. The last training will be in Rio de Janeiro.

Head coach of women’s team Artashes Nersisyan

This is the first time we perform as a team and win. Our girls have always been strong and won medals, but we’ve been far from the best in team score.

We proved this time that we have a strong team and can defeat many powerful countries. Yes, our country’s population and territory are small, but we are strong and unbeatable. Now we should do everything to keep this achievement, to develop and strive for more.

The girls are resting now. We’ll gather on May 15 in Tsaghkadzor and progressively prepare for Olympic Games in Rio.