Armenian freestyle wrestler Vazgen Tevanyan will go to the main tournament of the quadrennial for the second time in his career. In Paris, the 24-year-old athlete will represent Armenia in the up to 65 kg weight category. Vazgen is considered one of the favorites in this weight.
Vazgen Tevanyan is the winner of the individual World Cup (2020), bronze medalist of the World Championship and European champion in freestyle wrestling.
Vazgen Tevanyan performance dates in Paris:
August 11 - repechage bouts, bronze bouts and finals
In this article we will look at the path Vazgen Tevanyan took to get to the 2024 Olympic Games.
Vazgen was born on October 27, 1999 in the village of Pokr Vedi, Ararat region. Since his birthday coincided with the day of the terrorist attack in the Armenian parliament, and his uncle was a fighting friend of Vazgen Sargsyan, Vazgen’s father, together with his brother, decided to name the newborn son of their family after Vazgen Sargsyan, in memory of him. He started practicing freestyle wrestling in 2009 in Artashat under the guidance of coach Rafik Goletsyan.
Vazgen joined the senior Armenian national team in 2019. At the end of 2020, he became the winner of the Individual World Cup, making a significant impression with a crushing victory over the Russian wrestler competing for Hungary, Ismail Musukaev, with a score of 9:1.
Individual Word Cup 2020
1. Vazgen Tevanyan (Armenia)
2. Ismail Musukaev (Hungary)
3. Hadji Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
3. Gor Oganesyan (Ukraine)
Immediately after the tournament, the European qualifying tournaments for the 2021 Olympics in Hungary began in March 2021, where Vazgen demonstrated his outstanding abilities. He not only reached the final and received a license, but also defeated the Azerbaijani wrestler Haji Aliyev in the final with a score of 9:0. After this victory, people began to talk about Vazgen with great attention and respect.
European Olympic Qualifier 2021
1. Vazgen Tevanyan (Armenia)
2. Hadji Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
3. Vladimir Khindzhikashvili (Georgia)
3. Selahattin Kilitsallayan (Türkiye)
At the Olympic Games Tokyo, Vazgen, at the very first stage of the tournament, caught the Russian wrestler Gadzhimurad Rashidov, whom he lost with a score of 6:0, and this was the end of Vazgen’s performances in Tokyo.
After the Olympic Games, this period was an important stage in the career of Vazgen, who gained valuable experience and became even stronger in preparation for the World Championships in Oslo, which began in October 2021.
At the World Championships in Oslo, Vazgen started in the qualifying round, defeating a Briton and an American. In the quarterfinals, Mongolian Tumur Ochir Tulga was waiting for him, and although Vazgen lost with a score of 2:1, the refereeing raised doubts. Tumur Ochir Tulga used dishonest methods, grabbing him by the tights and preventing Vazgen from acting freely. Thus, Vazgen finished the tournament in 9th place.
After Oslo, the next important event was the World Championships among wrestlers under 23 years old. This tournament was a turning point for Vazgen, who after the Olympic Games did not drop weight and moved to the weight category up to 70 kg. He successfully passed the qualifying round, defeating representatives of Germany and Uzbekistan. In the quarterfinals, Vazgen met with the Turkish wrestler Tsuneyt Budak, where he showed his true character, winning with a score of 5:4. However, the knee injury received in this fight became a serious test for Vazgen. In the semi-finals he also showed perseverance, defeating his Moldovan opponent with a score of 5:4, but in the final the injury greatly affected his performance and he lost with a score of 10:2.
U-23 World Championship 2021
1. Ernazar Akmatialiev (Kyrgyzstan)
2. Vazgen Tevanyan (Armenia)
3. Aliakbar Fazlikhalili (Iran)
3. Nikolay Grakhmez (Moldova)
After this tournament, Vazgen underwent surgery and began rehabilitation of his leg. He did not compete in tournaments for almost a year, but in September 2022 he returned to the World Senior Championships, demonstrating an unbending will to win and a desire to return to the top of the wrestling world.
At the 2022 World Championships, Vazgen, having not fully recovered by the time of the competition, was unable to achieve the desired results, losing in the first match to an American opponent. However, in October of the same year, the World Championships among wrestlers under 23 years old were held in Spain, where Vazgen was already fully prepared to compete.
At this tournament, Vazgen performed with a knee brace, but this time no injury prevented him from showing his best qualities. He started with a 10-0 win over Canadian Daniel Koles in the round of 16. In the next round of the 1/8 finals, he defeated Briton Ross Kolenny, also with a score of 10:0. In the quarterfinals, Vazgen showed true character, defeating the Japanese Ryoma Anraku with a score of 4:3, and in the semifinals he confidently defeated the Kazakh Adlan Askarov with a score of 7:6. In the final, his opponent was the Turkish Hamza Alaka, whom Vazgen successfully defeated with a score of 8:4, winning the title of world champion among wrestlers under 23 years old.
U-23 World Championship 2022
1. Vazgen Tevanyan (Armenia)
2. Hamza Alaka (Türkiye)
3. Erik Arushanyan (Ukraine)
3. Ryoma Anraku (Japan)
The tournament was an important confirmation of his athletic endurance and professionalism, highlighting his ability to come back despite injuries and unsuccessful performances.
After Vazgen's return, the next significant tournament was the triumphant European Championship 2023, where he impressively demonstrated his best qualities and won the title of European champion.
In the 1/8 finals, Vazgen met with the representative of Israel, Joshua Finesilver, whom he defeated with a score of 10:0. In the next round, the quarter finals, he defeated the Azerbaijani wrestler Ali Rahimzadeh with a score of 4:1. In the semi-finals, Vazgen defeated the Ukrainian athlete Erik Arushanyan with a score of 12:4. In the final, he confidently defeated the Bulgarian wrestler Mikai Naim, winning with a score of 12:1 and becoming the European champion.
European Championship 2023
1. Vazgen Tevanyan (Armenia)
2. Mikiai Naim (Bulgaria)
3. Edemi Bolkvadze (Georgia)
3. Erik Arushanyan (Ukraine)
After the successful start of the European Championship in Croatia, Vazgen, as the current European champion, needed to win at least a bronze medal in order to automatically qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris, and he coped with this task perfectly.
In the 1/16 finals, Vazgen won a landslide victory over the representative of Belarus, Nyurgun Skryabin, with a score of 9:0. In the next round, in the 1/8 finals, in a stubborn fight he defeated a wrestler from Tajikistan, Abdulmajid Kudiev, with a score of 8:6. In the quarterfinals, Vazgen defeated his old rival, Haji Aliyev, with a score of 12:2. However, the semi-final was the turning point. Vazgen was close to the final and possible triumph at the World Championships, but he was missing something minor. In the final seconds, he lost to Puerto Rican wrestler Sebastian River with a score of 10:9.
In the fight for bronze, Vazgen showed his strength and experience, defeating Moldavian opponent Maxim Sakultan with a score of 5:1, and as a result became the bronze world champion. This victory secured his participation in the Olympic Games in Paris.
World Championship 2023
1. Ismail Musukaev (Hungary)
2. Sebastian Rivera (Puerto Rico)
3. Shamil Mamedov (Russia)
3. Vazgen Tevanyan (Armenia)
In 2024, Vazgen took part in the European Championship, where, as the reigning tournament winner, he needed to defend his title, but this time not everything worked out according to plan.
In the 1/8 finals he defeated the representative of Poland. However, in the next round he was defeated by Russian athlete Gadzhimurad Rashidov with a score of 5:4 in a very tense fight. In the fight for bronze, Vazgen was unable to resist the German representative and was defeated with a score of 3:2.
This tournament became an important lesson and challenge for Vazgen, which will help him prepare even more for future competitions and prove his sporting achievements.
This tournament was the last significant event before the Olympic Games for Vazgen. Throughout the entire period until June, he was actively preparing mentally and physically for this important event, studying his opponents, analyzing their style and strategy in order to be ready for the last tournament before the Olympics.
An international tournament was held in Hungary, where many strong wrestlers gathered. At this tournament, Vazgen decided to compete in the up to 70 kg weight category along with his teammate, Arman Andreasyan. Both athletes successfully reached the final, but Vazgen decided not to voluntarily fight against his friend, giving the victory to his comrade.
This act emphasized Vazgen’s high moral principles and sportsmanship, his dedication to the team and respect for his teammates. It also prepared him mentally for the upcoming Olympic Games, where he hopes to demonstrate his best results and adequately represent Armenia on the international stage.
Thus, starting in 2021, Vazgen Tevanyan returned with a medal from almost all major tournaments.
At the 2024 Olympic Games, Amoyan's main competitors will be Ismail Musukaev (Hungary), Hadji Aliyev (Azerbaijan), Tumur Ochir Tulga (Mongolia), Islam Dudayev (Albania), Maxim Sakultan (Moldova) and Sebastian Rivera (Puerto Rico).
Considering all the previous results before the Olympics, we can say with confidence that Vazgen will definitely fight for medals. At the draw, he will be seeded 1st number and will go to his main competitors at the 1/4 final stage, where his opponent may be Tumur Ochir Tulga (Mongolia).
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