Armenian Athletes Sweep European Weightlifting with 13 Gold, 5 Silver, and 4 Bronze Medals

The Armenian team has achieved an extraordinary victory at the European Junior and U23 Weightlifting Championships held in Raszyn, Poland, bringing home a total of 22 medals. The young weightlifters secured 13 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze medals across various weight categories, marking a historic achievement for Armenia in international sports.

This annual competition, organized by the European Weightlifting Federation (EWF), gathers the most promising weightlifting talent from across Europe. It includes categories for under-20 (U20) and under-23 (U23) athletes, providing a platform for rising stars in weightlifting to demonstrate their abilities on an international stage.

The Armenian U20 women’s team delivered standout performances, dominating their categories. In the 55 kg division, Alexandra Grigoryan took the gold with remarkable strength and skill. Anna Amroyan followed suit in the 76 kg category, while Emma Poghosyan led in the 81 kg division. Julieta Avanesyan topped the +87 kg category, adding another gold medal to Armenia’s count.

In the U20 men’s division, Armenia’s team continued their impressive streak. Zhora Grigoryan won the 55 kg category, Narek Mkrtchyan triumphed in the 81 kg division, and Alexander Lazaryan lifted his way to gold in the 102 kg weight class. The team also saw success with silver medals: Rafik Minasyan in the 61 kg category and Ashot Movsisyan in the +109 kg class. Bronze medals were earned by Martin Poghosyan in the 73 kg division and Valerik Movsisyan in the 89 kg category.

Armenian lifters in the U23 category further strengthened the country’s position with remarkable victories. Liana Gyurjian seized gold in the 87 kg division, while Garnik Cholakyan (61 kg), Gor Sahakyan (73 kg), Suren Grigoryan (89 kg), Garik Karapetyan (109 kg), and Petros Petrosyan (+109 kg) all took home gold medals in their respective weight classes. These victories show Armenia’s strong standing in youth weightlifting and its commitment to supporting and training top-level athletes.

Additional silver and bronze medals contributed to Armenia’s achievements in the U23 division. Milena Khachatryan (81 kg), Margarita Arakelyan (87 kg), and Mary Tumasyan (+87 kg) each won silver, while Karen Margaryan (81 kg) and Mnatsakan Abrahamyan (89 kg) earned bronze medals, further boosting Armenia’s medal count.

This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of Armenia’s young athletes and their coaches. The Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports recognized this accomplishment. Winning 13 gold medals among 22 total medals in a single championship is a significant milestone for Armenia, setting a new standard for the country’s weightlifting program.