Olympic champion, weightlifter Yuri Vardanyan passes away at age 62

Olympic champion, weightlifter Yuri Vardanyan passed away at the age of 62 in the USA, Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry reports.

Issue of transporting the body of the champion to Armenia is being discussed.

Vardanyan won seven World champion and five European champion titles. During his career he set 43 world records, won 111 gold medals.

Vardanyan won gold of the 1980 Summer Olympics, becoming the world’s first weightlifter to achieve a 400 kilogram total in the 82.5 kg weight category.

In 2009 Vardanyan was appointed adviser to the Armenian president. In 2013 he was appointed Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs. In 2014 Vardanyan was appointed Armenia’s Ambassador to Georgia.

After resigning, Vardanyan moved to the USA.