Levon Julfalakyan waiting for golden medal from Armenian Olympians

YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS: 25 years ago the head coach of the national Greco-Roman wrestling team of the Republic of Armenia Levon Julfalakyan got the title of the Olympian champion in Seoul. It is interesting that Julfalakyan will celebrate his Seoul victory jubilee in Budapest, where on September 16-22 the World Wrestling Championship will take place. On this occasion the Armenpress correspondent interviewed the head coach of the national Greco-Roman wrestling team.

- Mr. Julfalakyan, with what feelings do you remember your victory in the Seoul Olympic Games of 1988?

- To tell the truth, I work so much that I did not even remember about the jubilee. You know, I had always come out to the tatami with the objective to win and when I won at the Seoul Olympic Games, at the first moment I did not even realize that I had succeeded and accepted the fact very calmly.

- A real dynasty of the Julfalakyans has been established in wrestling and your son, Arsen Julfalakyan, was quite close to the victory at the London Games.

- Arsen has achieved a silver medal and we will work to gain a golden medal at the next games as well. By the way, my other son Aram could struggle for the title of the Olympic champion as well. Thus, the Julfalakyans are a real dynasty in the wrestling. So, I, as an Olympic champion, would like to become a coach that has trained an Olympic champion.

- The Armenian fans are longing for a golden medal.

- Beside the longing, there is a need for it. The Armenian athletes have this task before them. Certainly, the Olympic silver and bronze medals also bring a great honor but it is high time to gain a golden medal as well. (THE FULL INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)

Interviewed by Zaven Vardanyan

Levon Julfalakyan was born inLeninakan, Armenian SSR(nowGyumri,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 1982, he won the junior championship of theUSSR, and in 1983, he won the senior championship of the USSR. He graduated from Gyumri Pedagogical Institute.

Julfalakyan joined the Soviet national wrestling team in 1985 and, in that same year, won a gold medal at theFILA Wrestling World Cupteam competition. Julfalakyan later became a European Champion when he won a gold medal at the 1986Wrestling European Championships. Four months later, Julfalakyan also became a World Champion by winning a gold medal at the1986 FILA Wrestling World Championships.

At the1988 Summer OlympicsinSeoul, Julfalakyan competed in the weight category of 68kg. 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 the1989 FILA Wrestling World Championships. He decided to retire from wrestling afterward.

Julfalakyan became the head coach of the Armenian national Greco-Roman wrestling team in 1999. That same year, he was also elected the president of the Union of Armenian Olympians. In 2003, he became a Member of the Executive Committee of theNOC. Julfalakyan currently lives inYerevan. He is married and has two sons. His elder son,Arsen Julfalakyan, is also a wrestler and won an Olympic silver medal at the2012 Summer OlympicsinLondonforArmeniaand bore the national flag at the closing ceremony.