Weightlifting in Armenia
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Yurik_Vardanian.jpg/225px-Yurik_Vardanian.jpg)
Weightlifting was introduced to Armenia in the late 1920s and became widely practiced after World War II. Today, it is one of the country's most popular sports.[1] The sport is regulated by the Armenian Weightlifting Federation. The first weightlifters from Soviet Armenia made successful appearances on the international stage in the 1970s. Vardan Militosyan won a silver at the 1976 Olympics, and later Yurik Vardanyan became an Olympic, World and European champion through the late 1970s and the early 1980s. Oksen Mirzoyan and Yurik Sarkisyan rose to top positions in the 1980s. After its independence from the Soviet Union, Armenia successfully held its weightlifting traditions and continues to be one of the strongest nations in Europe. In 2008, the Armenia team placed first at the European Championship. In the 2008 Summer Olympics Armenia won three bronze medals. Tigran Gevorg Martirosyan is Armenia's only world champion with his successful appearance in 2010.
Armenia's second largest city of Gyumri with a population of about 150,000, is well known for producing many prominent weightlifters,[2] such as World and European weightlifting champions Yurik Vardanyan, Israel Militosyan, Gevorg Davtyan, Tigran G. Martirosyan and Nazik Avdalyan.[3][4][5][6][7]
Name
Weightlifting is known in Armenian as either ծանրամարտ tsanramart, composed of ծանր tsanr "heavy" and մարտ mart "fight" or ծանր աթլետիկա tsanr at'letika literally "heavy athletics" (via Russian тяжёлая атлетика).[8]
History
The origins of weight lifting trace back to ancient history, most notably Ancient Greece. Modern weightlifting, however, is relatively new and was mainly organized and institutionalized in Europe and North America in the late 19th century. The current International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) was established in 1920. Weightlifting has been in all Summer Olympic Games except 1900, 1908 and 1912.[9]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Mirzoyan%2C_Vardanyan_and_Sarkisyan.png/270px-Mirzoyan%2C_Vardanyan_and_Sarkisyan.png)
Soviet period
Weightlifting was introduced to Armenia in the first decade of Soviet rule in Armenia. In 1927, a weightlifting club was established in the Armenian Sport Committee. In 1928, the first weightlifting championship was held in Yerevan and the first Armenian weightlifters participated in the Transcacucasian and later in Soviet championship. In 1947, the first Armenian weightlifter competed in a European championship.[8][10]
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union was, by far, the strongest nation in the world in the sport of weightlifting[9] and Armenian athletes made a significant contribution to this.[11]
By 1979, there were 205 weightlifting clubs in Soviet Armenia with around 5,200 people training in them.[8] By the 1970s Armenian weightlifters began to play an important role in the Soviet Union's weightlifting program. The first Olympic medalist from the Armenian SSR was Vardan Militosyan, who won a silver medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics.[12]
Yurik Vardanyan became the first weightlifter from Armenia to win a gold medal in weightlifting at the 1980 Summer Olympics. In a dominant performance, Vardanyan became the first ever light-heavyweight (82.5 kg) to lift a total of 400 kg in an official competition, shattering both the Olympic and world records. By contrast, middle-heavyweight gold medalist Peter Baczako (90 kg) totaled 377.5 kg and sub-heavyweight gold medalist Ota Zaremba (100 kg) totaled 395 kg.[13] Vardanyan set the division record for a final time at the 1984 Friendship Games, an alternative to the Soviet-boycotted 1984 Summer Olympics, lifting a total of 405 kg. Vardanyan's achievements have not been matched since, as the current light-heavyweight record for the now 85 kg light heavyweight category (not including records set before the weight limit change) is currently 394 kg, set by Andrei Rybakou at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[14] Vardanyan set 41 world records during his decorated career.[15] For his accomplishments, Vardanyan earned the title Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR in 1977 and was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1985. In 1994 he was elected a member of the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame.[16]
To this day, Vardanyan is still seen as a hero in Armenia for his accomplishments in the sport of weightlifting. A stamp of Vardanyan was printed in 2010 in honor of him.[17]
Along with Vardanyan, other significant Armenian weightlifters of the 1980s included 1980 Olympic silver medalist Yurik Sarkisyan, who set 12 world records during his career,[18] and 1988 Olympic gold medalist Oksen Mirzoyan, who set also set 12 world records during his career.[19]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Tigran_G._Martirosyan.jpg/180px-Tigran_G._Martirosyan.jpg)
At the 1992 Summer Olympics, Israel Militosyan, who previously won a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics, won a gold medal in the same division. Militosyan is, to this day, the final Armenian to win an Olympic gold medal.[20] The 1992 Olympics signaled the end of Soviet weightlifting.
Independent Armenia
Armenia has so far set four world records in weightlifting, all in the snatch. Khachatur Kyapanaktsyan set two of them. Sergo Chakhoyan set another. Militosyan, who set a snatch world record twice in 1989 under the Soviet Union, set the record again in 1994 for Armenia.[21]
Aghvan Grigoryan, who became the first Armenian Olympian to bear the flag of Armenia at the Summer Olympics in 1996, was a weightlifter. Arsen Melikyan became the first Armenian weightlifter for the independent Armenia to win an Olympic medal, having won a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.[22]
Year | Number |
---|---|
2005[23] | 2,543 |
2010[24] | 2,352 |
2021[25] | 1,704 |
Armenian weightlifters were particularly successful in 2008. They came in first place at the 2008 European Weightlifting Championships and Tigran Gevorg Martirosyan, Gevorg Davtyan and Tigran Vardan Martirosyan all won bronze medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics, making it the most decorated Olympics for Armenia to date. Nazik Avdalyan won a gold medal at the 2009 World Weightlifting Championships and became the first weightlifter from independent Armenia to win a gold medal at the World Weightlifting Championships. Tigran Gevorg Martirosyan also won a gold medal at the 2010 World Weightlifting Championships, becoming the first male weightlifter from independent Armenia to do so. Hripsime Khurshudyan became the first Armenian woman to win an Olympic medal at the Olympics, having won a bronze medal in weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[26]
Oksen Mirzoyan later became the Head Coach of the Armenian national weightlifting team and is now the current Chairman of the Armenian Weightlifting Federation.[27]
Armenia's statistics agency recorded a downward trend in the 21st century in the number of people practicing weightlifting. In 2005 Armenia had over 2,500 weightlifters, which dropped to 1,700 by 2021.[23][25]
The 2023 European Weightlifting Championships were held in Yerevan from 15 to 23 April 2023.
Records
Olympics
- Note: Until 1991, Armenian SSR was part of the Soviet Union and in 1992, weightlifters from independent Armenia were part of the Unified Team[28]
Men
| Women
|
World Championships
Men
| Women
|
European Championships
Men
| Women
|
References
- ^ Nauright, John; Parrish, Charles (2010). Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 459. ISBN 978-1-59884-300-2.
- ^ "Gyumri". Cultural Caucasus. Retrieved 29 November 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Yuri Vardanyan". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^ "Israel Militosyan". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^ "Gevorg Davtyan". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^ "Tigran G. Martirosyan". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^ Mkhrtchyan, Gayane (30 November 2009). "Snatched, Cleaned, Jerked, Crowned!: Nazik Avdalyan becomes independent Armenia's first weight lifting world champ". ArmeniaNow. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^ a b c Simonian, G (1979). "Ծանր աթլետիկա [Weightlifting]". In Hambardzumyan, Viktor (ed.). Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia (in Armenian). Vol. 5. Yerevan: Armenian Encyclopedia. p. 115.
- ^ a b Mallon, Bill; Heijmans, Jeroen (2011). Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement (4th ed.). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. pp. 375–376. ISBN 978-0-8108-7522-7.
- ^ Mikayel Ispiryan, Vahram Arakelyan (2007). Մարզական հանրագիտարան [Encyclopedia of Sport] (in Armenian). Yerevan. pp. 153–154.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Ծանրամարտի, բռնցքամարտի և սուսերամարտի ամբիոն [Department of weightlifting, boxing and fencing]". Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
- ^ "Vardan Militosyan". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
- ^ "Weightlifting results for the 1980 Summer Olympics". databaseOlympics.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-19. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ^ "Senior Men's World Records". www.iwf.net. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ^ "World Records @ Lift Up". liftup.chidlovski.net. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ^ "Weightlifting Hall of Fame". International Weightlifting Federation. Archived from the original on 2008-09-13. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
- ^ "AM024.10". www.wnsstamps.ch. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ^ "World Records @ Lift Up". liftup.chidlovski.net. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ^ "World Records @ Lift Up". liftup.chidlovski.net. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- ^ "Israel Militosyan". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
- ^ "Dream Teams Of The 20th Century: Team Armenia". liftup.chidlovski.net. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
- ^ "Arsen Melikyan". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
- ^ a b "Սպորտային կազմակերպությունների գործունեությունը 2005 թվականին" (PDF). armstat.am (in Armenian). Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2021.
- ^ "Սպորտային կազմակերպությունների գործունեությունը 2010 թվականին" (PDF). armstat.am (in Armenian). Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Սպորտային կազմակերպությունների գործունեությունը 2021 թվականին" (PDF). armstat.am (in Armenian). Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Hripsime Khurshudyan". London 2012 Website. Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
- ^ "Soviet Weightlifting Athletes: Where Are They Now?". www.chidlovski.net. Archived from the original on 2014-07-26. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
- ^ Parsadanyan, Albert (2003). Գիտելիքների շտեմարան [Knowledge Warehouse] (in Armenian). Vol. 1. Yerevan: VMV-Print. pp. 152–158. ISBN 99930-960-4-0.
- ^ "Vartan Militosyan". databaseOlympics.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ "Yurik Sarkisyan". databaseOlympics.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ "Yurik Vardanyan". databaseOlympics.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ "Oksen Mirzoyan". databaseOlympics.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Israil Militosyan". databaseOlympics.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ "Arsen Melikyan". databaseOlympics.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-14. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
- ^ "Tigran G. Martirosyan". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
- ^ "Gevorg Davtyan". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
- ^ "Tigran V. Martirosyan". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
- ^ "Weightlifting Women's +75kg". London 2012 Olympic Games. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
- ^ "1993 World Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "1994 World Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "1995 World Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "1998 World Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "2006 World Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "2006 World Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "2007 World Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "2009 World Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "2009 World Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "2010 World Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ^ "75th MEN'S and 18th WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS". International Weightlifting Federation. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ a b "77th MEN'S and 20th WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS". International Weightlifting Federation. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "78th MEN'S and 21st WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS". International Weightlifting Federation. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "1994 European Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ a b "1995 European Championship Middleweight [76 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "1995 European Championship Middle Heavyweight [91 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "1998 European Championship Middleweight [77 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "1998 European Championship Super Heavyweight [105+ kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "1999 European Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2000 European Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2001 European Championship Middleweight [77 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2001 European Championship Middle Heavyweight [94 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2003 European Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2005 European Championship Light Heavyweight [85 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2005 European Championship Super Heavyweight [105+ kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2006 European Championship Lightweight [69 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2006 European Championship Middleweight [77 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2007 European Championship Lightweight [69 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ a b "2007 European Championship Middleweight [77 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2008 European Championship Lightweight [69 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2008 European Championship Middleweight [77 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2008 European Championship Light Heavyweight [85 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2009 European Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2010 European Championship Bantamweight [56 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2010 European Championship Middleweight [77 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ a b "2010 European Championship Light Heavyweight [85 kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2010 European Championship Super Heavyweight [105+ kg]". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2011 European Championship". Lift Up. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "2014 European Championship Results". result.ewfed.com. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ "2014 European Championship Results". result.ewfed.com. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ "2014 European Championship Results". result.ewfed.com. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ "2015 European Championship Results". result.ewfed.com. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ "2015 European Championship Results". result.ewfed.com. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ "2015 European Championship Results". result.ewfed.com. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ "Armenian weightlifter Hripsime Khurshudyan wins bronze in London". Arka News Agency. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ a b c "EUROPEAN SENIOR WEIGHTLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS STRASBOURG - FRA" (PDF). Strasbourg 2007. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ a b "EUROPEAN SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008". International Weightlifting Federation. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ a b "European Senior Championships 2009". International Weightlifting Federation. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ a b "EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010". International Weightlifting Federation. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ "90TH MEN AND 24TH WOMEN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS". International Weightlifting Federation. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
External links
- v
- t
- e
- Football in Armenia
- Chess in Armenia
- Wrestling in Armenia
- Weightlifting in Armenia
- Boxing in Armenia
- Rugby union in Armenia
- Basketball in Armenia