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Levon Julfalakyan

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Levon Julfalakyan
Levon Julfalakyan on a 2011 Armenian postage stamp
Personal information
Born (1964-04-05) 5 April 1964 (age 60)
Gyumri, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union
Home townYerevan, Armenia
Height1.67 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb)
Sport
SportWrestling
EventGreco-Roman
ClubCSKA Gyumri
Coached byAram Sargsyan
Medal record
Representing  Soviet Union
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul 68 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1986 Budapest 68 kg
Bronze medal – third place 1989 Martigny 68 kg
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1986 Piraeus 68 kg
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1985 Lund 68 kg

Levon Julfalakyan (Armenian: Լեւոն Ջուլֆալակյան, born 5 April 1964) is a former Soviet Armenian Greco-Roman wrestler. He is an Olympic, World, and European Champion and was merited Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR in 1988.[1] Julfalakyan is the current head coach of the Armenian national Greco-Roman wrestling team and President of the Union of Armenian Olympians, as well as a member of the executive committee of the NOC.

Early life

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Levon Julfalakyan was born in Leninakan, Armenian SSR (now Gyumri, Armenia). Coming from an athletic background, both of his parents had been gymnasts. Levon attended gymnastics sections from an early age, then started wrestling in Gyumri Youth Academy. In 1983, he won the junior championship of the USSR. He graduated from Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute (now Shirak State University).[1]

Career

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Julfalakyan joined the Soviet national wrestling team in 1985 and, in that same year, won a gold medal at the Wrestling World Cup team competition. Julfalakyan later became a European Champion when he won a gold medal at the 1986 European Wrestling Championships. Four months later, Julfalakyan also became a World Champion by winning a gold medal at the 1986 World Wrestling Championships.

At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Julfalakyan competed in the weight category of 68 kg. Julfalakyan was very dominant in all of his matches and defeated every opponent by a wide margin of points. Julfalakyan was awarded an Olympic gold medal for his victory.

A year prior to becoming an Olympic Champion, Julfalakyan came in third place at the 1989 World Wrestling Championships. He decided to retire from wrestling afterward.

After retiring from competitions Julfalakyan worked as a wrestling coach. In 1999 he became the head coach of the Armenian national Greco-Roman wrestling team and president of the Union of Armenian Olympians. In 2002 he was appointed as vice-president of the Armenian Wrestling Federation, and next year became a member of the executive committee of the NOC.[1] Julfalakyan was also President of the Armenian Olympians Association.[2]

Personal life

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Julfalakyan currently lives in Yerevan. He is married and has two sons Arsen and Aram, who are also wrestlers. His elder son Arsen Julfalakyan won an Olympic silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London for Armenia and carried the national flag at the closing ceremony.

Awards

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Julfalakyan was awarded the "For Merit" 1st degree medal in 2012.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Джулфалакян Левон (in Russian). vayr.ucoz.ru. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Levon Julfalakyan". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2018..
  3. ^ "Հայաստանի Հանրապետության մեդալներով պարգևատրելու մասին" (in Armenian). President.am. 24 December 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
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