14 Facts About Arsen Galstyan

Arsen Galstyan was born on 19 February 1989 in the village of Nerkin Karmiraghbyur in north-east Armenia.

Arsen Galstyan's father was a football player, playing for the club Impuls FC Dilijan in the second half of the 1970s and later played as a part of FC Ararat Yerevan.

Arsen Galstyan was a student in the sports department of the Kabardino-Balkarian State University.

Arsen Galstyan has been a member of the Russian national judo team since 2007.

Arsen Galstyan was an underdog and found himself fighting all of the favorites.

Arsen Galstyan next overcame reigning two-time World Champion Rishod Sobirov, ranked number one by the International Judo Federation, in the semifinals.

Arsen Galstyan scored the ippon as he was about to fall victim to an ippon of Hiraoka's.

Arsen Galstyan brought Russia its first gold medal of the Olympic Games.

Arsen Galstyan dedicated his victory to the victims of the flood in the Krasnodar region.

Arsen Galstyan was ranked in Russia's top ten athletes of 2012 by the Russian Sports Journalists Federation.

In December 2010, Arsen Galstyan fought, as a sparring partner, against Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, a black belt and former judo champion.

Arsen Galstyan visited Armenia after winning his Olympic gold medal and was called a hero by those in his home country, which was the most enjoyable Olympic moment for him.

Arsen Galstyan still considers Armenia to be his home country, along with Russia.

Arsen Galstyan urged all foreign Armenian athletes to maintain closer ties with the homeland.