The Olympians: Paris 2024. “I will do everything in my power to wrestle well” – Slavik Galstyan

YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS) — Armenia’s Greco-Roman wrestling team will participate in the 33rd Summer Olympic Games in Paris with three athletes. These games are the main priority for member of the national team Slavik Galstyan and the guest for this installment of “ARMENPRESS” pre-Olympic program “The Olympians: Paris-2024”.

Slavik Galstyan

Greco-Roman wrestler

27

World Championship Bronze Medalist

European Championship Double Bronze Medalist

First participation in the Olympics will be at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Days of competition are August 7 and 8

– Slavik, when and how did you get interested in wrestling?

– I’ve been interested in wrestling ever since my father’s friend took me to a gym. His son was also training there, so we went together. I really liked the sport. I was 6 at the time, and have been training for 22 years now.

– This may be an odd question to ask, but has your height hindered you in any way?

– It’s been both helpful and disruptive [laughter]. It doesn’t help when my opponents are shorter than me, but it can be helpful in other circumstances.

– Was there any tournament that made you convinced that wrestling was your calling?

– I’ve known from a young age that wrestling is my passion. It’s exciting when you can ‘taste’ the victory and seek to do so again.

– Is there any wrestler that you look up to as an example?

– I wouldn’t say there’s just one. There’s of course our legendary Artur Aleksanyan, but also foreign athletes like Hamid Sourian and Roman Vlasov.

– You’re currently training in the same gym as Artur Aleksanyan. What significance does this hold for you?

– It’s exciting when he trains with us, and we really do see him as a legend. Training sessions with him mandate that we do everything in our power to achieve the best results. I’m very happy and proud that I get to be part of the same team.

– What would you say is the beauty of wrestling that seems unperceivable to non-wrestlers?

– For me it’s the emotional triumph following a victory. The difficulties we overcome, and the victory that we fight so hard for. For me the most interesting part is seeing how athletes react after winning.

– If you had one chance to go against any wrestler in all of the sport’s history, who would you pick? 

– Probably Hamid Sourian.

– These are your first Olympic Games. What is the mindset that you’re approaching them with?

– I’m very prepared and optimistic and will do everything in my power to wrestle well. I’m very hopeful that everything will go swimmingly, and that my results will speak for themselves. I know I shouldn’t think of this tournament as something removed from everything else I’ve done before. It creates unnecessary tension.

– To finish off, please continue the following sentence: The Paris Olympic Games for me will be…
– …the most memorable.