Armenian wrestler Artur Aleksanyan’s victory at the 31st Olympic games in Rio was celebrated with fireworks and mass festivities in Armenia’s second city Gyumri after midnight on August 17, when Aleksanyan was named Olympic champion.
The city residents had gathered in the central square to follow the final fight of the wrestler.
After Aleksanyan was named Olympic Champion, more people took to the streets, displaying fireworks, celebrating with music and dance the victory of their countryman.
To remind, World champion Artur Aleksanyan became Armenia’s first gold medal at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio winning the second gold in the history of independent Armenia after 20-year break. In the final Aleksanyan defeated Cuba’s Luco Cabrera (3-0) and declared Olympic Champion.
RIO DE JANEIRO—Artur Aleksanyan became the first athlete to win a gold medal for the Armenia team on Tuesday when he beat Cuba’s Yasmany Daniel Lugo Cabrera in the final round of wrestling competition at the Rio Olympics.
While receiving his gold medal Aleksanyan wore a shirt with the image of Robert Abajyan who was killed in Artsakh during the April War.
Fellow wrestler Migran Arutyunyan won a a silver medal.
Earlier on Tuesday, Aleksanyan defeated Turkey’s Cenk Ildem in the semifinals to advance to the finals.
Arutyunyan, 27, competed against Serbian wrestler Davor Stefanek in the finals on Tuesday, receiving Armenia’s second silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
He was eligible to compete for gold after defeating Azerbaijan’s Rasul Chunayev in the men’s Greco-Roman 66 kg semifinal.