A bronze statue of legendary gymnast and three-time Olympic champion Albert Azaryan was unveiled today in Yerevan’s Komitas Park and Pantheon to mark the first anniversary of the athlete’s passing. The park is located in the Shengavit District.
Azaryan, affectionately known as the “King of the Rings,” secured Olympic gold for the Soviet Union at the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games in the still rings, a discipline in which he also earned world and European championship titles. The statue, sculpted by Gor Davtyan, depicts Azaryan performing his signature “Azaryan Cross,” a move that revolutionized the sport.
Azaryan passed away in Yerevan on September 5, 2023, at the age of 94. His gymnastics career made history: he was the first gymnast to win two consecutive Olympic gold medals in the rings event, a feat that has only been matched once in history. In addition to his Olympic success, he became a two-time world champion in the rings (1954, 1958) and earned the European championship title in 1955.
Throughout his lifetime, Azaryan’s influence on gymnastics was profound, particularly in Armenia, where he spent many years leading the artistic gymnastics school in Yerevan. From 1998 until 2021, he also served as the president of the Artistic Gymnastics Federation of Armenia.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by the Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, Zhanna Andreasyan, alongside her deputy, Karen Giloyan. The statue was funded by the state, with Azaryan’s son, Eduard, playing a crucial role in selecting the final design from several sketches presented by the sculptor.
Albert Azaryan was not only a celebrated athlete but also a pioneer in the sport, introducing the “Azaryan Cross,” a variation of the Iron Cross that remains one of the most challenging moves on the rings. This technique, which involves a quarter-turn while hanging with arms fully extended, showcases the exceptional strength and precision that defined his career.
This memorial not only celebrates Azaryan’s extraordinary contributions to gymnastics but also underscores his lasting legacy in Armenian sports and culture. His achievements made him a symbol of Armenian pride on the international stage, and his dedication to the sport left an indelible mark on future generations of gymnasts.
