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Armenian Medalists at the 2012 London Olympic Games
By Grant Pakhtigian
FLArmenians Sports Contributor
August 10, 2012
As we are tuned into the Summer Games for this Fortnight in London 2012,
our hopes for Armenia's medalists run deep and wide. We are as wide as the
Diaspora and deep as Armenia's locals, it's towns, villages and fertile
soil in sporting history.
With our hopes for a showing like never before, twenty-five Armenian
Olympians, with a slight caveat of not getting to be seen on TV at this
year's Opening Ceremonies, take their place and put their best foot forward
every four years in this hallmark 30th Olympiad.
With the character and principals of fairness and truth, the games hold a
distinct character led by International Olympic committee chief Jacques
Rogge. On this 15th day of competition, we have some blips on the radar of
medals from this little independent state.
Female Olympian Hripsime Khurshudyan was the first Armenian medalist in
these games, and the first female athlete from Armenia to ever medal in any
sport. In Weightlifting's +75kg (super-heavy weight), she struck Bronze for
her efforts.
She was soon followed by Arsen Julfalakyan in Greco-Roman Wrestling. He
took the Silver medal by facing his last opponent Roman Vlasov of Russia in
the +74 kg category. Meanwhile in the wrestling circle Arthur Aleksanyan
took Bronze in the +96kg Greco-Roman category.
Mikayel Koloyan, who competed in the pool for the 100-meter freestyle, took
away a mark of 53.82 and finished with a ranking of 8. Along with fellow
swimmers, 18-year-old Anahit Barseghyan finished just out of the medal
race, landing in 4th in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 1:08:19.
The U.S. won Gold in Water Polo under Armenian-American Team USA Head Coach
Adam Krikorian, with his fearless assistants not far behind. The final jump
in the pool for all those on deck after victory were awash in their
congratulatory baptismal dip in the pool. Adam Krikorian is the women's
water polo coach at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). While
another Armenian-American, Arthur Akopyan, personal coach for U.S. gymnast
McKayla Maroney, watched his pupil win Silver in the individual Vault
competition.
Several Armenian athletes have yet to finish their event. They include
26-year-old Arman Yeremyan in Tae Kwon Do, and 27-year-old Mihran Jaburyan
in +55kg Freestyle Wrestling. Armenia has garnered a total of three medals
thus far.
The medal count represents two Bronze, one for Weightlifting, one for
Wrestling, and one Silver for free style Wrestling.
Armen Nazaryan who competes in Judo scored a win moving through the draw
versus a competitor from New Guinea but was stopped by fellow Challenger
Pawel Zagrodnik of Poland.
Kristine Harutyunyan, 21, competes in the Javelin throw. Her first mark was
47.65 feet, and she is from Gyumri. Olympian Tigran Martirosyan, also from
Gyumri is 24 years old and competes in the +77 kg Weightlifting discipline.
Andranik Hagopian of Etchmiadzin competes as a middleweight boxer and won
his round of 32 versus Terrell Gausha of the United States. Vardan
Pahlevanyan won his qualifying event in men's long jump.
For 2012, most Armenian competitors are just becoming young adults and we
look forward in the coming years to more brilliant performances based from
talented, supported, creative and youthful hopefuls.
*Grant Pakhtigian is a sports writer for print and online sports
publications. He received his Bachelors of Business Administration in
Accounting from St. Thomas University in Miami and resides in West Palm
Beach, Florida. *
Available online: http://bit.ly/R6r3bm
###
Hyperlinks:
- http://www.london2012.com/country/armenia/
- http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/117820/
- http://www.london2012.com/athlete/khurshudyan-hripsime-1027756/
- http://www.london2012.com/athlete/julfalakyan-arsen-1031799/
- http://www.london2012.com/athlete/aleksanyan-artur-1031850/
- http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/w-wpolo/mtt/krikorian_adam00.html
--
Taniel Koushakjian
Editor
FLArmenians.com
Facebook.com/flarmenians
Follow us on Twitter @FLArmenians
From: Baghdasarian
By Grant Pakhtigian
FLArmenians Sports Contributor
August 10, 2012
As we are tuned into the Summer Games for this Fortnight in London 2012,
our hopes for Armenia's medalists run deep and wide. We are as wide as the
Diaspora and deep as Armenia's locals, it's towns, villages and fertile
soil in sporting history.
With our hopes for a showing like never before, twenty-five Armenian
Olympians, with a slight caveat of not getting to be seen on TV at this
year's Opening Ceremonies, take their place and put their best foot forward
every four years in this hallmark 30th Olympiad.
With the character and principals of fairness and truth, the games hold a
distinct character led by International Olympic committee chief Jacques
Rogge. On this 15th day of competition, we have some blips on the radar of
medals from this little independent state.
Female Olympian Hripsime Khurshudyan was the first Armenian medalist in
these games, and the first female athlete from Armenia to ever medal in any
sport. In Weightlifting's +75kg (super-heavy weight), she struck Bronze for
her efforts.
She was soon followed by Arsen Julfalakyan in Greco-Roman Wrestling. He
took the Silver medal by facing his last opponent Roman Vlasov of Russia in
the +74 kg category. Meanwhile in the wrestling circle Arthur Aleksanyan
took Bronze in the +96kg Greco-Roman category.
Mikayel Koloyan, who competed in the pool for the 100-meter freestyle, took
away a mark of 53.82 and finished with a ranking of 8. Along with fellow
swimmers, 18-year-old Anahit Barseghyan finished just out of the medal
race, landing in 4th in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 1:08:19.
The U.S. won Gold in Water Polo under Armenian-American Team USA Head Coach
Adam Krikorian, with his fearless assistants not far behind. The final jump
in the pool for all those on deck after victory were awash in their
congratulatory baptismal dip in the pool. Adam Krikorian is the women's
water polo coach at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). While
another Armenian-American, Arthur Akopyan, personal coach for U.S. gymnast
McKayla Maroney, watched his pupil win Silver in the individual Vault
competition.
Several Armenian athletes have yet to finish their event. They include
26-year-old Arman Yeremyan in Tae Kwon Do, and 27-year-old Mihran Jaburyan
in +55kg Freestyle Wrestling. Armenia has garnered a total of three medals
thus far.
The medal count represents two Bronze, one for Weightlifting, one for
Wrestling, and one Silver for free style Wrestling.
Armen Nazaryan who competes in Judo scored a win moving through the draw
versus a competitor from New Guinea but was stopped by fellow Challenger
Pawel Zagrodnik of Poland.
Kristine Harutyunyan, 21, competes in the Javelin throw. Her first mark was
47.65 feet, and she is from Gyumri. Olympian Tigran Martirosyan, also from
Gyumri is 24 years old and competes in the +77 kg Weightlifting discipline.
Andranik Hagopian of Etchmiadzin competes as a middleweight boxer and won
his round of 32 versus Terrell Gausha of the United States. Vardan
Pahlevanyan won his qualifying event in men's long jump.
For 2012, most Armenian competitors are just becoming young adults and we
look forward in the coming years to more brilliant performances based from
talented, supported, creative and youthful hopefuls.
*Grant Pakhtigian is a sports writer for print and online sports
publications. He received his Bachelors of Business Administration in
Accounting from St. Thomas University in Miami and resides in West Palm
Beach, Florida. *
Available online: http://bit.ly/R6r3bm
###
Hyperlinks:
- http://www.london2012.com/country/armenia/
- http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/117820/
- http://www.london2012.com/athlete/khurshudyan-hripsime-1027756/
- http://www.london2012.com/athlete/julfalakyan-arsen-1031799/
- http://www.london2012.com/athlete/aleksanyan-artur-1031850/
- http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/w-wpolo/mtt/krikorian_adam00.html
--
Taniel Koushakjian
Editor
FLArmenians.com
Facebook.com/flarmenians
Follow us on Twitter @FLArmenians
From: Baghdasarian