Armenian weightlifter Varazdat Lalayan has been crowned world champion for the first time, winning a gold medal in the super-heavyweight (+109 kg) category at the 2024 IWF World Weightlifting Championships held in Manama, Bahrain. This victory marks a historic moment, as Lalayan becomes the first Armenian to secure a world title in the super-heavyweight weightlifting category, reports Zartonk Media.
Lalayan achieved the world title with a combined total of 467 kg, comprising a 215 kg lift in the snatch and a 252 kg lift in the clean and jerk. In the snatch event, he made three successful attempts, lifting 206 kg, 211 kg, and 215 kg, securing the gold medal in that segment. In the clean and jerk, he successfully lifted 245 kg and then 252 kg, earning a bronze medal in that category. His combined total of 467 kg secured him the overall world title.
Upon returning to Yerevan with the Armenian weightlifting team, Lalayan reflected on the increasing competitiveness of the sport. “The competition is getting more intense, and the value of gold is even greater now. We must put in more effort and energy to continue bringing gold to Armenia,” he remarked, still processing the magnitude of his achievement.
The Armenian weightlifting team received a warm welcome back to Yerevan following their successful performance at the World Championships. In addition to Lalayan’s gold, Alexandra Grigoryan earned a bronze medal, Garnik Cholakyan secured a small bronze medal, and Garik Karapetyan obtained a small silver medal.
Hrachya Rostomyan, President of the Weightlifting Federation of Armenia, praised Lalayan’s accomplishment as a groundbreaking achievement for Armenian sports. “The world’s strongest weightlifter is Armenian,” Rostomyan stated. “For the first time in history, Armenia has a world champion in the super-heavyweight weightlifting category. Varazdat Lalayan is making our dream come true and is showing to the world once again that the Armenian weightlifting school is among the finest in the world.”
This victory signifies a significant milestone in Lalayan’s career and underscores Armenia’s prominence in the global weightlifting arena.
