In the world of sports, there are many stories about heroes. Those who repeatedly won the coveted pedestal became a legend. Films were shot about them, and everyone knew their names. Dizzying success is a hard achievement. Exhausting workouts, a dynamic lifestyle without rest and rest - this is the only way to achieve high results. The name of Albet Azaryan is well known to everyone. This is a man who managed to win not only gold at the Olympic Games, but also the hearts and love of many people. The interesting fate of the great athlete deserves attention.
Merits and Awards
You can see the hero of the article in the photo. Albert Azaryan managed to achieve a lot in his life. Here are his merits and awards:
- The period from 1952 - 1962. - Eleven-time champion of the USSR (eight times of which in exercises on the rings).
- 1954 - world champion.
- 1958 - world champion.
- 1954 - Honored Master of Sports of the USSR.
- 1956 - Olympic champion.
- 1960 - Olympic champion.
- 1966 - Honored Coach of the Armenian SSR.
- 1967 - Honored Worker of Sports and Physical Culture of the Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
- 1970 - judge of the international category.
- 2000 - according to sports journalists, the best Armenian athlete of the twentieth century.
- 2004 and 2008 - the standard bearer from Armenia at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, which were held in Athens and Beijing, respectively.
- Received a well-deserved award - the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.
- He was awarded the Order of Honor.
He is currently the head of the Gymnastics Federation in Armenia.
Albert Azaryan: biography
Many people know the name of Azaryan Albert. His path was not easy. Honor, worldwide fame and respect came to him for a reason. His life began in the small village of Ganzaki. It was there that on February 11, 1929, the great gymnast was born. However, the family did not stay long in this village and soon moved to Kirovakan. Due to life circumstances, this place also had to be left soon, and in 1947 the Azaryan family moved to Yerevan.
The boy’s childhood passed in moving and constantly adapting to new places. As a teenager, Albert lost his father. The young man was only 15 years old when the breadwinner of the family passed away. To live, the family needed money. And since the head of the family was gone, the young man had to get a job. A heavy burden was put on his fragile shoulders by a young man. There was no easy work at that time. Any adult had to work hard and hard. As for adolescents, it was extremely difficult for them to find a job. However, Albert Azaryan did not despair and got a job at the forge. He was taken to the apprentice. Work took the first half of the day, and in the afternoon he went to school with evening classes. Apparently, the hard work of the assistant blacksmith made itself felt. The boy had a good physical development already from adolescence. After all, it was precisely such loads that allowed Azaryan to strengthen physically. Already in his teens, the boy became interested in wrestling and weightlifting.
In 1947, the All-Union Physical Culture Parade started in Moscow, the capital of the USSR. Young Albert Azaryan took part in it. The sports theme has taken over the mind of the future gymnast, and he decides to connect his fate with the world of sports. Upon reaching the age of 19, Azaryan enters the college of physical education. However, this is not enough. A couple of years later, a new educational institution, the Yerevan State Institute of Physical Culture, opens in Yerevan. It seems that fate itself is conducive to the future Olympian. Azaryan enters into it. He graduated from this educational institution Albert in 1956.
1955 London
Albert Azaryan is a gymnast who climbed the career ladder deservedly and confidently. International competitions held in 1955 became another page in the success story of the great gymnast. However, not all so simple. Albert was worried and worried. He perceived any competition responsibly and with excitement.
The gymnast's coach, knowing that because of this Albert could give a weak spot, decided to go for a trick. Before the performance, Albert heard such words from him: “Well done Azaryan! Our consul liked you. So you will go to the competition in Frankfurt. You don’t have to worry about today's competitions. Just show the audience how you can and please us with a good performance. ” Such words breathed self-confidence into the gymnast, and the unrest receded into the background. Encouraged and strengthened in spirit, Albert took an honorable second place. The mystery was the fact that no consul existed. And only those athletes who would take first and second places could go to Frankfurt. The smart trainer was sure of Albert’s victory, so he decided to go for such a trick, which, as it turned out, helped bring London silver to the gymnast’s piggy bank.
Amazing competitions in Frankfurt
The competitions held in Frankfurt were amazing. Albert was able to wonder himself and surprise the whole world. The fact is that Albert lagged behind the leading positions throughout the championship. Even the organizers of the championship themselves were sure that Albert could not see the first places. Based on these speculations, the medals that were to be presented to the three winners were prepared in advance. Even engravings with the names of athletes were pre-applied to them. However, everything went wrong! Azaryan, who had taken up the tenth place before, unexpectedly for everyone at the last moment took the leading first. This surprised not only all the spectators and the judges, but the gymnast himself did not expect this from himself. Apparently, at the last moment, all the hidden opportunities and talents of the gymnast were activated, which allowed to reduce the distance and wrest victory from the wrong hands.
Roman winner
The 1960 Olympic Games were held in Rome. It was a triumphal performance! The hall whistled and screamed with delight. Thousands of voices congratulated the great athlete. His performance made a splash in the sports world. After all, he showed by his example that there is no limit to the development of human capabilities.
However, this may not have been. Before the start of the performance, the team of Soviet athletes trained in Sukhumi. Azaryan in the qualifying competitions could not score a single point. After such a clear setback, he stopped his training. Coaches, puzzled by this behavior, decided not to send the athlete to the competition. “You could not score a single point here. What can you type there? You should not be part of our Olympic team. ”
Such words touched the pride of the gymnast, and against all odds he decided to show that he could do much more. “I will score 57.5 points and return the lost points.” Such confidence was justified. After all, the gymnast confirmed his words with deed. The next day, he dialed the numbers. This allowed him to snatch a trip to the competition in Rome. And then there was a triumph. The legendary athlete brought two gold to the Soviet team.
"Rings of Glory" - Albert Azaryan's Golden Rings
Heroes love to praise and chant. And this was not done for the purpose of flattery. Heroes like Azarian serve as a worthy example for all generations. Great fortitude, excellent physical preparation, hard work and endless training are the paths of the great Olympic athlete. We, his fans and followers, can only admire and be proud of such a wonderful person. The name of this virtuoso gymnast entered the history of world sports.
In the cinema, they decided in their own way to capture the glory of Azaryan. In 1955, it was decided to make a film about the fate of Albert. Yuri Yerzinkyan expressed a desire to take a picture. This idea was to my liking, and in 1960 the film "Rings of Glory" was released on the screens of Soviet TVs. Albert Azaryan personally played the main role in it. The film fell in love immediately. After all, it was a tape not about a fictional superhero, but about a real person. The biographical tape reflected all the way to the success of a legend.
The film became a hit. The name of Albert Azaryan was well known to everyone. People who had nothing to do with sports admired and were proud of the gymnast. Many admired the fit and beautiful figure of the athlete. People predicted the career of a famous actor, because his appearance allowed Azaryan to become a favorite of the female public. But such glory was alien to him. He was attracted not by shooting and films, but by gymnastic rings and training. Therefore, after completing his career, he remained in sports, but already in the role of a coach.
Rich heritage
Albert decided not to stop there. After completing his career, he decided to help the children and opened a sports school in Yerevan. It still exists and continues to function. Any children can study in it. The most important thing is the desire to work. Many athletes who have achieved good results in the world of sports have left this school. The famous athlete Sofya Ghukasyan won the gold of the Olympic Games more than once. She became a master of sports and honored athlete in gymnastics and acrobatics. Currently holds the position of coach at the school. Azaryan.
In total, over 8,000 thousand athletes underwent sports training at this school. And every year this figure is growing. Many worthy people came out from under the wing of Azaryan: Eduard Azaryan - Honored Master of Sports of the USSR, Norayr Sarksyan - master of sports in the international class, and many others.
Afterword
The name of this man has become not only an example in the world of sports. He is an example of patriotism. During his career, Albert Vagarshakovich Azaryan has visited 49 countries of the world. At one time, he even worked for three years in Holland. But my heart was drawn to my homeland. Despite persuasion, he returned to his native country, in which he lives to this day.