Sargis Stepanyan, a decorated Armenian war hero, para-athlete, and triple amputee, has won gold, securing his fourth world championship title in the 80kg category at the 27th Para-Armwrestling World Championship in Albena, Bulgaria, on September 16. The championship is being held from September 10 to 23.
With this latest win, Stepanyan adds to an already remarkable record that includes five European Para-Armwrestling Championships, four World Championships, and two World Cup titles.
The event brought together athletes from 58 countries, which made Stepanyan’s victory even more valuable and highlighted the growing international profile of para-armwrestling.
Stepanyan announced his victory on Facebook: “This is already my fourth World Champion title, and throughout my sporting career I have also become a five-time European Champion, as well as a two-time World Cup winner. I sincerely thank you all for your support and trust. This victory belongs to you as well.”
Earlier this year, in June, Stepanyan won his fifth European Para-Armwrestling Championship in the men’s 80kg category at the 2025 European Armwrestling & Para-Armwrestling Championships in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, further cementing his dominance on the continental stage.
Now 42 years old, Stepanyan’s journey is rooted in sacrifice. A lieutenant colonel in the Armenian Armed Forces and former member of Armenia’s Special Operations Forces, he was severely wounded in 2014 while repelling an Azerbaijani attack and attempting to rescue a fellow soldier under enemy fire in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). He stepped on a landmine, resulting in the loss of three limbs — both legs and his right arm. He survived multiple cardiac arrests during emergency surgery, with doctors crediting his survival to his elite conditioning and the swift response of his unit.
After recovering, Stepanyan turned to sports as a key part of his rehabilitation and personal transformation. He began his professional armwrestling career in 2015 and quickly rose to international prominence. Over the years, he built an impressive record, becoming a five-time European Para-Armwrestling Champion, a four-time World Champion, and a two-time World Cup winner.
In 2017, he won two golds and one silver at the World Armwrestling Championships. In 2023, he claimed the world title in the -80 kg category. Stepanyan is also a leading advocate for wounded soldiers and individuals with disabilities.
