Varazdat Lalayan Becomes European Champion in Weightlifting, Simon Martirosyan Takes Silver

Varazdat Lalayan has won the title of European Champion for the first time in his career. On the final competition day of the European Weightlifting Championships held in Sofia, Bulgaria, Varazdat Lalayan was crowned European Champion with a total lift of 455 kg (205+250).

In the same weight category, Armenia's other representative Simon Martirosyan claimed the silver medal with a total lift of 437 kg (190+247).

In the snatch event, Lalayan successfully lifted 200 kg on his first attempt and 205 kg on his second, but failed to lift 210 kg on his third attempt. He earned a small gold medal in this event.

Simon Martirosyan was only successful in his first attempt, lifting 190 kg. He failed his second and third attempts, for which coach Pashik Alaverdyan had called for 200 kg. Martirosyan secured a small bronze medal.

In the clean and jerk event, Lalayan started his competition with a successful lift of 240 kg on his first attempt and then lifted 250 kg on his second attempt, opting out of his third. Simon Martirosyan lifted 241 kg first, then 247 kg, but could not succeed with the 255 kg attempt called by coach Pashik Alaverdyan for his third effort.

It is noteworthy that Lasha Talakhadze, the leading athlete in the +109 kg category and a 7-time World and European Champion, as well as a two-time Olympic Champion from Georgia, withdrew from the competition due to injury.