The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) remembers the legendary Yurik Vardanyan

On May 4, 2025, the official website of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) published an article dedicated to one of the greatest athletes in the history of the sport — the legendary Armenian weightlifter Yurik Vardanyan.

The publication highlights that, despite Armenia not having an Olympic gold medal in weightlifting as an independent country, Vardanyan remains the brightest representative of the nation on the international stage.

“Although Armenia has yet to produce an Olympic champion in weightlifting, the name of Yurik Vardanyan remains a symbol of greatness in the sport within the country. His triumph at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games and six gold medals at World Championships make him the greatest weightlifter in Armenian history.

Yurik Vardanyan was born in June 1956 in Leninakan (now Gyumri, Armenia), which at the time was part of the Soviet Union. He began weightlifting at the age of 14 under the guidance of his uncle and, by 1977, at just 21 years old, became World Champion in Stuttgart. He went on to confirm his dominance by winning gold again at the 1978 and 1979 World Championships.

At the 1980 Moscow Olympics, competing in the 82.5 kg category, Vardanyan was one of the favorites — and fully lived up to expectations, winning with 177.5 kg in the snatch, 222.5 kg in the clean & jerk, and a total of 400 kg. He became the first athlete in this weight class to surpass the 400 kg barrier in total.

His dominance continued in the following years, as he won three more World Championship gold medals — in 1981, 1983, and 1985. His final appearance was also one of his most outstanding: 177.5 kg + 220 kg = 397.5 kg at the 1985 World Championships. Over the course of his career, he set 41 world records — 15 in the snatch (best: 190 kg), 15 in the clean & jerk (up to 228 kg), and 11 in total.

After retiring in 1985, he lived between the USA and Armenia, finally returning to Yerevan in 2009. His son, Norayr Vardanyan, born in 1987, followed in his father’s footsteps and represented Armenia at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Yurik Vardanyan passed away in November 2018 at the age of 62, leaving behind a powerful legacy that continues to inspire generations of Armenian weightlifters.”