olympics Archives

Dad bikes 17,000 km via Armenia, Thailand to watch son in Olympics

February 19, 2018 by administrator

A Swiss skier’s father, Guido Huwiler, 55, and his wife Rita Ruttimann have biked 17,000 kilometers through Italy, Armenia, Thailand and a host of other countries to watch their son at the Olympics in PyeongChang, Yahoo Sports reports.

When passing through Armenia, the pair took photos of well-known spots and just gorgeous scenes in the country, posting them on Instagram and describing the warmth of the Armenian people and the breathtaking beauty of the mountains and valleys.

The couple set out from Switzerland on February 2, 2017, with the goal of biking all the way to South Korea. And, with just a week to spare, he made it in time to see his son compete in the Aerials events at Phoenix Snow Park. (Gasser’s mother was there as well, flying in like the rest of the sane planet has done.)

“My dad is crazy,” Swiss free skier Mischa Gasser laughed after his qualifying. “He was a skydiver as well in his younger age. It’s just what they have to do.”

There were some small hiccups. Huwiler and Ruttimann couldn’t bike through North Korea, of course, and couldn’t secure the necessary approval to ride through China. So they took a couple of well-timed plane flights to keep the journey moving.

The duo rode through an astounding 20 countries on their way to PyeongChang, staying in everything from hotels to tents along the way. The full list: Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and finally South Korea.

“They’re here for supporting us and our [Swiss] team,” Gasser said. “All the guys think it’s just great.”

OLMPIQUES GAMES RIO: An American-Armenian coach of the women’s team water polo

August 21, 2016 by administrator

American-Armenian descent, coach Adam Krikorian

The coach of the women’s Olympic team of water polo victorious United States to Rio Olympics is an American of Armenian descent, Adam Krikorian (42). In his final team won over Italy on the 12-5 score. Russia is ranked 3rd. Unfortunately a drama touched Adam Krikorian. Two days before the final of the Olympics brother, Blake Krikorian was killed in a car accident. The American swimmers have dedicated their gold medal to their coach Adam Krikorian appreciated by the team for its professional and human qualities.

Krikor Amirzayan

OJ Rio today the last 4 Armenian athletes compete in freestyle

August 19, 2016 by administrator

Yesterday Armenia had no representative in the competitions of the 13th day of the 31st Rio Olympics. Today August 19 at the 14th day, the last 4 athletes from Armenia to the Olympics in Rio will compete in freestyle wrestling competitions. We closely monitor David Safaryan could win a medal, like the other three Armenian wrestlers.

The last 4 Armenian sportsmen in the wrestling competitions are Karnig Mnatsakanyan (57 kg), David Safaryan (65 kg), Georgi Ketoev (97 kg) and Levan Berianidze (125 kg).

With 4 -1 gold medals and 3 silver-Armenia was ranked 36th last in the table of Rio Olympics medals. Performance already quite exceptional, with Armenia that was before Georgia, Azerbaijan -and its billions of dollars invested in the purchase of foreign athletes wearing the colors azéries- and Turkey also purchased abroad sport in hopes of medals …

Krikor Amirzayan

Armenia hopes for Rio Olympics one to two Olympic gold medals

August 5, 2016 by administrator

Today August 5 until August 21, 10,500 athletes from 205 countries will participate in the 31th Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Games that will extend to 47 sports. 45 heads of state are announced at the opening ceremony Friday, August 5th at the Olympic Stadium in Rio. Among the distinguished guests, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will be present, accompanied by personalities including Gagik Dzaroukian the President of Armenian National Olympic Committee. Armenia scroll with a delegation of about forty members, athletes, managers and coaches, the largest delegation ever recorded by Armenia since its first participation in the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta (1996).

Between 1952 -date of the first participation of the USSR in 1988 and JO- dozens of Armenians athletes had won Olympic titles in the colors of the Soviet Union, Armenia is one of the 15 republics of the USSR .

In ancient times, Armenians were distinguished in the Olympics. Thus at the time of the ancient Olympics two kings Armenians were crowned with victory at Olympia. This is Tiridate, fighting (281 AD) and Varazadat, in boxing (369 AD).

The Olympic team of Armenia will be in Rio with 33 athletes also recorded a record number of participants. These athletes compete in nine sports: athletics, gymnastics, rifle shooting, judo, boxing, weightlifting, Greco-Roman wrestling, the free wrestling and swimming. This is boxing with six athletes in weightlifting (8 athletes) and above all self-control and anti-Greco Roman (10 athletes in total control) that Armenia hopes for medals. Specialists consider especially that Armenia can get one to two Olympic titles in wrestling. Mihran Harutyunyan (66 kg), Arsene Julfalakyan (75 kg), Maxime Manoukyan (85 kg) and especially the largest Armenian Artur hope Alexanyan (98 kg) double world champion and triple European champion, has serious medal chances Olympic.

Receiving the Armenian team before leaving for Rio, Gagik Dzaroukian, president of the Armenian Olympic Committee said that among the 33 members of the Olympic team of Armenia, a score could claim a medal.

Since its first participation in the Summer Olympics (Atlanta 1996) Armenia has only one gold medal -remportée in Greco-Roman wrestling Armen Nazarian to Atlanta- two silver and 9 bronze or 12 medals in total. In 2008 Armenia won in Beijing … 6 medals, all bronze. London 2012 Armenia had returned with 3 medals, 1 silver and 2 bronze. Gold therefore seriously lacking in Armenia. And all the Armenian sports experts say that gold will shine for Rio Armenia.

Krikor Amirzayan