Novinite, Bulgaria
Aug 26 2004

WHO’S WHO: Armen Nazarian

Armenia-born Armen Nazaryan continued his medal-sweeping career in
greco-roman wrestling winning the Bronze in Athens. Photo by
Internet.

Armen Nazarian was born March 9, 1974 in Armenia’s city of Masis.

He began to wrestle in 1983, but achieved his first game in 1996
while competing for Armenia in the 52kg class. Four years later he
claimed a second at 58kg for Bulgaria.

At 60kg this time, he is the second Greco-Roman wrestler to claim
Gold medals in three weight classes.

Nazarian’s 1996 title gave his birth country its only Olympic gold
medal. Atlanta was the first Games that Armenia, a former Soviet
republic, competed independently. But after those Games, Nazarian
left for Sofia, Bulgaria. He was one of many Armenian wrestlers who
sought greener pastures because of the lack of funds in their
homeland.

Armen Nazarian initially wanted to compete for France, but the French
said they didn’t have the money to take him. He chose Bulgaria partly
because his girlfriend lived there, but mainly because of an offer
from the Slavia Litex wrestling club, where six of the eight members
of the 1999 Worlds team trained.

His achievements include:

— junior:

world champion in 1993;
European champion in 1994;

— men’s:

two-time Olympic champion – Atlanta 1996, and Sydney 2000;

one bronze medal from Olympic Games – Athens 2004;

two-time world champion – Moscow 2002, and Creteil (France)
2003;

two silver medals from world championships – Stockholm 1993, and
Prague 1995;

three bronze medals from world championships – Wroclaw (Poland) 1997,
Gavle (Sweden) 1998, and Athens 1999;

six-time European champion – Athens 1994, Besancon (France)
1995, Minsk 1998, Sofia 1999, Seinajoki (Finland) 2002, and
Belgrade 2003;

two silver medals from European championships – Budapest 1996, and
Moscow 2000;

named World’s Best Greco-Roman Wrestler in 1998 and in 2003;

six-time champion of Armenia;

six-time champion of Bulgaria.