World Champion becomes national hero

"I knew from the very beginning that I would be able to prove something, even the fact that weightlifting is not a merely male sport, and that it is not necessary to be brutal to go in for it. One may be very tender and delicate, yet have achievements," says Nazik Avdalyan, who became World Champion in weightlifting on November 29 in South Korea.

Avdalyan has guests at her home in Gyumri every day, as her community wants to welcome the national hero. Her mother says that after her daughter has become a champion, guests visit them endlessly, and the festive table is never cleared.

Nazik Avdalyan has her own space in the house full of her diplomas and medals. The room smells sweet with the aroma of many bouquets; the walls are decorated with her laurels. Avdalyan (23) carefully takes out the three gold medals from the velvet box.

"Standing on the victory podium, I was dreaming only about one thing - I wished that moment last as long as possible, so that I could enjoy it longer," Avdalyan recalls.

The champion's coach - Ashot Nersisyan - says that becoming a world champion is a very responsible deed.

"It is very difficult for Nazik to carry this glory; just imagine, she has a very heavy burden on her shoulders. She must justify herself and others, the whole nation, so that she manages to carry that glory in the future, too. These days everybody hugs Nazik with tears of joy in their eyes," Nersisyan says.

Everybody got to know and love her within a few days.


Avdalyan's grandmother, Araxia Vardanyan, who came from Artik, remembers how 9-month-old Nazik was hanging by her small fists from a rope and swinging.

"My son was standing in the yard with my Nazik in his arms. The clothes-line was above their heads. Suddenly Nazik caught the rope and started swinging. She was going and coming the way as if she was playing on a horizontal bar," the grandma recalls.

Avdalyan went in for gymnastics when she was four. As for weightlifting, she took it up at age 13, becoming a five times champion of Armenia.

Becoming a competitive weightlifter was a very hard decision for Avdalyan.

"I was very much worried about the negative attitude of the people surrounding me. Why is everything accepted so difficultly in Armenia? I had moments of disappointment; I even decided to quit weightlifting. Now I understand that in order to become a good sportswoman, it is necessary to have a strong willpower and stubbornness," Avdalyan says.

Avdalyan started training with her coach Nersisyan since February 2006. She took the seventh place at the Weightlifting World Championship. In 2007, Avdalyan became a silver medalist of Europe Championship, Europe's gold medalist - in 2008, and Europe's silver medalist - in 2009.

When in Korea asked where Avdalyan's homeland is, a bigger map was requested in order to find Armenia.

"Nazik's talent comes from this air, the sun, water. It is our country that gives us the strength: flexibility of strength and mind. Gyumri's stable of weightlifting is very strong. We have many world champions - Yuri Vardanyan, Vardan Militosyan, Israel Militosyan," Nersisyan says.

Avdalyan has already restarted her trainings, lifting three hours a day. In a daily workout she can life 6-10 tons, sometimes 15-20 tons. The Europe Championship is ahead, and the Olympic Games are in 2012.

The world champion is not planning to get married yet.

"Even if I make a choice, he should not be an obstacle to the sport. And if he does, I will choose the sport without hesitation. I consider my work half-done yet. I have sacrificed too many things to achieve all this," Avdalyan says.

After intensive trainings Avdalyan has a rest listening to classical music. Her hobby is chain stitching, her favourite food is 'khinkali' (traditional Georgian food made of meat and dough), however, as she says, she "does not make friends with cuisine."

Everybody was surprised at Avdalyan's backward somersault and splits after she lifted the victorious weight.

"Even before the championship we planned that if I succeeded in my last approach, I would jump. So I did it," Avdalyan says.

"That is Nazik's image. Every time before her 'performance' I tell Nazik, 'Nazik, look, you have to jump, meaning, you have to win'," says the coach speaking in the peculiar dialect of the Gyumretsi.

 By Gayane Mkrtchyan
ArmeniaNow reporter