Armenia's Olympic Team heads to Beijing with high hopes

The Armenian Reporter | August 2, 2008 13ArmeniaThe National Olympic Team of ArmeniaBoxingJudoHovhannesDanielianBorn on April 11,1987Weight: 48 kgAchievements:2006 EuropeanChampionshipbronze medalist.Hrachia JavakhianBorn on July 6, 1984Weight: 60 kgAchievements:2006 EuropeanChampionship silvermedalist.Hovhannes DavtianBorn on November 25, 1983Weight: 60 kgAchievements: 2007 Europeanchampionship silver medalist.Edward HambardzoumianBorn on February23, 1986Weight: 64 kgAchievements: 5thplace, 2007 WorldChampionship.Andranik HakobianBorn on October 6,1981Weight: 75 kgAchievements: 5thplace, 2005 WorldChampionship.Armen NazarianBorn on June 20, 1982Weight: 66 kgAchievements: 2006European championshipsilver medalist.ShootingTrack and FieldNorair BakhtamianBorn on November 1, 1970Achievements: 2006 EuropeanChampionship silver medalist.Melik JanoianBorn on March 24,1985Achievements:Winner at the 2007European Cupjavelin competition.Ani KhachikianBorn on March 16,1991Achievements:2008 champion ofArmenia in 100 mrun.Swimming• Armen Nazarian (Bulgaria)60kg Greco-Roman Wrestling.• Artyom Shaloyan (Germany)69kg Weightlifting.•Ara Abrahamyan (Sweden)84kg Greco-Roman Wrestling.Michael KoloianBorn on June 21, 1983Weight: 60 kgAchievements: Multiple championof Armenia, record holder.Armenian athletes participating on behalf ofother countries for the Beijing Olympic Games• Varteris Samurghashev (Russia)74kg Greco-Roman Wrestling.• David Nalbandian (Argentina)Tennis.•Know of any others?Write news@reporter.amGevorg Davtyan is Armenia’s champion weightlifterYEREVAN – Armenia has great expectationsfrom Gevorg Davtyanat the Beijing Olympics. He is theWord Weightlifting Vice-Champion.The young man with determinationand unbendable will inhis eyes has already lived throughthe ups and downs of professionalsports and has emerged as a leadingathlete in the world of weightlifting.Like all children, Gevog went toschool in his native Gyumri, butunfortunately he did not have thechance to enjoy a carefree childhood- he was 5 years-old whenthe 1988 earthquake took hismother’s life and destroyed hishome. Gevorg’s father, a weightliftingcoach, was left to care forthe child and often took Gevorgto sporting events. This is whereGevorg’s childhood curiosity withsports evolved into fascination.He began training when he was 11years-old and as he became moreand more captivated by the sport,the difficult life of an athlete, completewith deprivations took overhis life. Vahan Bichakhyan, anacclaimed master of the sport,was entrusted to coach Gevorgtowards a professional athletic career.Vahan, continues to stand byand guide Gevorg.Gevorg became Armenia’s NationalYouth Weightlifting championand was included in theNational Youth Team. He first appearedon the international sportsarena in 1999, in Ligano, Italywhere he became European YouthWeightlifting Champion and seta world record. Two years later,in Salonika, Greece, Gevorg wasrecognized as the World YouthWeightlifting Champion. Aroundthis time, the Weightlifting Federationof Armenia decided to revitalizethe National WeightliftingTeam by recruiting younger forces.This was the beginning of a newphase in Gevorg’s life. Being a partof the adult sports world, whereeverything is more serious thanin youth competitions, was noeasy transition. Last year’s EuropeanChampionship in Strasbourg,France was Gevorg’s debut and atest of his determination andmuscle strength. The final fightfor the champion’s title in the77kg weight category narroweddown to a contest between twoArmenians form Gyumri; GevorgDavtyan and Ara Khachatryan.The Armenian athletes deprivedthe Turkish Olympic championeven of the chance to come in second.The champion’s title and histeammate’s unreserved congratulationswere eventually Davtyan’s.At the World Championship thatsame year Davtyan performedwith injuries and still broughthome a silver medal.What is the secret of Davtyan’ssuccess? Is it hard work and endlesstraining as many believe? “Notat all,” says Pashig Alaverdyan,an acclaimed coach. “No doubt,Gevorg is talented and nature hasgranted him incredible strengthbut at the same time he is one ofthose rare people who know howto redistribute their strength duringtraining. He does not trainblindly and uses technique ratherthan strength. This is what makeshis performances so special,” sayscoach Alaverdian.And, finally, one last importantfact - Gevorg is in the best shapeof his career and has gone to theOlympics determined to win.Good luck!f