Legendary artistic gymnast Albert Azaryan dead at 94

Emil Lazarian 2023

 17:56, 5 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Olympic gold winner, artistic gymnast Albert Azaryan has died at the age of 94, the head of the Armenian Gymnastics Federation Gagik Vanoyan announced Tuesday.

Azaryan won a gold medal in the rings at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics, the 1954 and 1958 World Championships and the 1955 European Championships, adding several more medals in team events. His perhaps biggest legacy is the Azaryan cross, in which the gymnast hangs straight with his arms stretched, like a crucifix. Azaryan was the first gymnast to perform this move, which was named for him.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS