Artur Aleksanyan

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Artur Aleksanyan
Artur Aleksanyan 2016-08-16.jpg
Personal information
Nickname(s)White Bear[1]
NationalityArmenian
Born (1991-10-21) 21 October 1991 (age 30)
Gyumri, Armenia
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight98 kg (216 lb)
Sport
SportWrestling
Event(s)Greco-Roman
Coached byGevorg Aleksanyan
Medal record
Men's Greco-Roman Wrestling
Representing  Armenia
Olympic Games
Olympic rings.svg
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro 98 kg
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo 97 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2012 London 96 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Tashkent 98 kg
Gold medal – first place 2015 Las Vegas 98 kg
Gold medal – first place 2017 Paris 98 kg
Silver medal – second place 2013 Budapest 96 kg
Silver medal – second place 2019 Nur-Sultan 97 kg
European Games
Gold medal – first place 2019 Minsk 97 kg
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Belgrade 96 kg
Gold medal – first place 2013 Tbilisi 96 kg
Gold medal – first place 2014 Vantaa 98 kg
Gold medal – first place 2018 Kaspiysk 97 kg
Gold medal – first place 2020 Rome 97 kg
Silver medal – second place 2011 Dortmund 96 kg
Silver medal – second place 2016 Riga 98 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Novi Sad 98 kg

Artur Aleksanyan (Armenian: Արթուր Ալեքսանյան, born 21 October 1991) is an Armenian Greco-Roman wrestler. He is an Olympic Champion (2016) as well as silver medalist (2021) and bronze medalist (2012), a three-time World Champion (2014, 2015, 2017), and a five-time European Champion (2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2020). Aleksanyan is the second Olympic gold medalist of Armenia since regaining independence in 1991 and is the most decorated Olympian of independent Armenia as well. He has been nicknamed the "Polar Bear" and is one of the most renowned Armenian athletes of the 21st century.

Career[]

Aleksanyan was born on 21 October 1991 in Gyumri. He started Greco-Roman wrestling in 2000 under the guidance of his father Gevorg Aleksanyan, an honored coach of Armenia. He competed in several junior tournaments and became a Junior World Champion at 84 kg in 2010. In 2011, Aleksanyan moved up a weight class to 96 kg and began competing as a senior.

After winning the Armenian Championship that same year, Aleksanyan joined the Armenian national Greco-Roman wrestling team. He made his European Championship debut at the 2011 European Wrestling Championships in Dortmund and won the silver medal. The following year, Aleksanyan won a gold medal at the 2012 European Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, winning five matches while only giving up one point.[2] Aleksanyan came in first place at the 2012 Olympic Qualification Tournament in Sofia shortly afterwards and won the right to participate at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. In the opening round he defeated Daigoro Timoncini (Italy) and in quarterfinals lost to eventual champion Ghasem Rezaei (Iran), but in the repechage rounds defeated Cenk Ildem (Turkey) and Yunior Estrada (Cuba) to win a bronze medal.[3]

He won another gold medal at the 2013 European Wrestling Championships in Tbilisi, making him a two-time European Champion.[4] Upon returning home, the Mayor of Gyumri Samvel Balasanyan received Aleksanyan and congratulated the athlete on his recent victory in the European Championships. Balasanyan thanked Aleksanyan for restating the sporting legacy of Gyumri with his performance and awarded him directly.[5] Later that year he won a silver medal at the 2013 World Wrestling Championships in Budapest.

In 2014, Aleksanyan won the gold medal at the 2014 European Wrestling Championships in Vantaa, winning his third European Championship, and later that year also won the gold medal at the 2014 World Wrestling Championships in Tashkent. This was the first World Championship of his senior career. He defeated Ghasem Rezaei in the semifinals, avenging his Olympic loss, and defeated Oliver Hassler (Germany) in the finals. Aleksanyan was voted the Armenian Athlete of the Year for 2014.[6] The following year, he won his second World Championships by winning another gold medal at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas. He defeated Rezaei again in the finals. Aleksanyan was voted the Armenian Athlete of the Year for 2015, being named the title for a second year in a row.[7]

Aleksanyan entered his second Olympic competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He won consecutive matches against Daigoro Timoncini (Italy), Alin Alexuc-Ciurariu (Romania), Cenk Ildem (Turkey), and Yasmany Lugo (Cuba) and won the gold medal.[8] This made Aleksanyan the second Olympic gold medalist of an independent Armenia, after Armen Nazaryan in 1996. He also became the first Armenian Olympic Champion of the 21st century. In addition, he is the first to win a second Olympic medal for Armenia and as of the 2016 Olympics is the most decorated Olympic sportsman of his country. Aleksanyan was the first wrestler to win two World Championships in between Olympics followed by winning an Olympic gold medal since Aleksandr Karelin in 1996.[9] He was the flag bearer of Armenia at the closing ceremony.[10]

During the medal ceremony, Aleksanyan revealed a shirt under his Olympic jacket with a portrait of Robert Abajyan, a 19-year-old Armenian junior sergeant who was killed in the 2016 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes of April earlier that year. He dedicated his medal to the Armenian soldiers protecting the border and the victims of the conflict.[11][12] Aleksanyan also stated he wore the picture of Abajyan so that the whole world would recognize their heroes and also wished that their heroes would not be forgotten.[13] Ruben Abajyan, the elder brother of Robert, expressed gratitude for Aleksanyan: “It was much unexpected for me, for my family members. I can’t explain what emotions I had. I was touched, I felt pride; it’s hard to explain."[14] Upon arriving back at Armenia, Aleksanyan was approached and hugged by a man at the airport who revealed himself to be Abajyan's father and thanked Aleksanyan for honoring his son.[13]

In 2019, Aleksanyan lit the second torch for the Pan-Armenian Games at Khor Virap[15]

He won the silver medal in the 97 kg event at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan.[16][17]

Personal life[]

Aleksanyan graduated from the Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute.

His father Gevorg is also his coach and holds the title of Honored Coach of Armenia. He also has a brother named Rafayel.[18]

The wrestling school Aleksanyan trains at was named after him in June 2015 after he won his second World Championship.[19]

He has been nicknamed the "White Bear" by his fans. In addition to wrestling, he also likes to play football.[1]

In October 2016, Aleksanyan became an honorary citizen of Yerevan, along with fellow 2016 Olympic wrestling champion Mihran Harutyunyan.[20]

Awards[]

Aleksanyan was awarded the Khorenatsi medal in 2012,[21] the "For Merit" 1st degree medal in 2014,[22] and the "For Service to Fatherland" 2nd degree medal in 2015.[23]

References[]

  1. ^ a b ""Ճանապարհ դեպի Ռիո". Ըմբիշ Արթուր Ալեքսանյան" (in Armenian). ARMNOC. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Artur Aleksanyan wins European Wrestling Championship". PanArmenian.Net. 11 March 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Artur Aleksanyan". www.london2012.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  4. ^ Armenia's Aleksanyan wins second European champion's title
  5. ^ Arthur Aleksanyan awarded in native city
  6. ^ "2014 թվականի Հայաստանի լավագույն մարզիկ է ճանաչվել Արթուր Ալեքսանյանը" (in Armenian). Mediamax Sport. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Արթուր Ալեքսանյանը՝ տարվա լավագույն մարզիկ" (in Armenian). ARMNOC. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Artur Aleksanyan". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Dissecting The Most Controversial Call: Full Day 3 Recap". FloWrestling. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  10. ^ "The Flagbearers for the Rio 2016 Closing Ceremony". 2016-08-21. Retrieved 2016-08-21.
  11. ^ "Հաղթանակս նվիրում եմ սահմանին կագնած հայ զինվորին և պատերազմի բոլոր զոհերին. Արթուր Ալեքսանյան" (in Armenian). ARMNOC. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  12. ^ Artur Aleksanyan: I dedicate victory to Armenian soldier standing at border, and all victims of the war
  13. ^ a b "Արթուր Ալեքսանյան. Հուզվեցի՝ օդանավակայանում տեսնելով Ռոբերտ Աբաջյանի հորը (ֆոտո)" (in Armenian). NEWS.am Sport. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  14. ^ Fallen Karabakh hero’s brother: I was proud that Aleksanyan got his gold medal wearing shirt with my brother’s photo
  15. ^ "Olympic Gold Medalist Lights 2nd Pan-Armenian Games Torch". Asbarez. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  16. ^ "Wrestling Results Book" (PDF). 2020 Summer Olympics. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  17. ^ Palmer, Dan (3 August 2021). "Trio of world champions add Olympic gold on second night of wrestling finals at Tokyo 2020". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved 3 August 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ "Artur Aleksanyan's mother, as usual, did not watch son's triumphant match in Rio". NEWS.am. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  19. ^ "Արթուր Ալեքսանյանի լավագույն նվերը կլիներ՝ իր անվան մարզադպրոցը տեսնել վերանորոգված" (in Armenian). NEWS.am Sport. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  20. ^ "Արթուր Ալեքսանյանն ու Միհրան Հարությունյանը՝ Երեւանի պատվավոր քաղաքացիներ" (in Armenian). NEWS.am Sport. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  21. ^ "Հայաստանի Հանրապետության մեդալներով պարգևատրելու մասին" (in Armenian). President.am. 24 December 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  22. ^ "Ա. Գ. ԱԼԵՔՍԱՆՅԱՆԻՆ "ՀԱՅՐԵՆԻՔԻՆ ՄԱՏՈՒՑԱԾ ԾԱՌԱՅՈՒԹՅՈՒՆՆԵՐԻ ՀԱՄԱՐ" 1-ԻՆ ԱՍՏԻՃԱՆԻ ՄԵԴԱԼՈՎ ՊԱՐԳԵՎԱՏՐԵԼՈՒ ՄԱՍԻՆ" (in Armenian). President.am. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  23. ^ "Ա. Գ. ԱԼԵՔՍԱՆՅԱՆԻՆ "ՀԱՅՐԵՆԻՔԻՆ ՄԱՏՈՒՑԱԾ ԾԱՌԱՅՈՒԹՅՈՒՆՆԵՐԻ ՀԱՄԱՐ" 2-ՐԴ ԱՍՏԻՃԱՆԻ ՇՔԱՆՇԱՆՈՎ ՊԱՐԳԵՎԱՏՐԵԼՈՒ ՄԱՍԻՆ" (in Armenian). President.am. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

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