25 Facts About Artur Aleksanyan

Artur Aleksanyan is an Armenian Greco-Roman wrestler.

Artur Aleksanyan is an Olympic Champion as well as silver medalist and bronze medalist, a four-time World Champion, and a seven-time European Champion.

Artur Aleksanyan has been nicknamed the "White Bear" by a sport journalist Karen Giloyan and is one of the most successful Armenian athletes of the 21st century.

Artur Aleksanyan started Greco-Roman wrestling in 2000 under the guidance of his father Gevorg Aleksanyan, an honored coach of Armenia.

Artur Aleksanyan made his European Championship debut at the 2011 European Wrestling Championships in Dortmund and won the silver medal.

Artur Aleksanyan came in first place at the 2012 Olympic Qualification Tournament in Sofia shortly afterwards and won the right to participate at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Artur Aleksanyan won another gold medal at the 2013 European Wrestling Championships in Tbilisi, making him a two-time European Champion.

Balasanyan thanked Artur Aleksanyan for restating the sporting legacy of Gyumri with his performance and awarded him directly.

In 2014, Artur Aleksanyan won the gold medal at the 2014 European Wrestling Championships in Vantaa, winning his third European Championship, and later that year won the gold medal at the 2014 World Wrestling Championships in Tashkent.

Artur Aleksanyan defeated Ghasem Rezaei in the semifinals, avenging his Olympic loss, and defeated Oliver Hassler in the finals.

Artur Aleksanyan was voted the Armenian Athlete of the Year for 2014.

Artur Aleksanyan was voted the Armenian Athlete of the Year for 2015, being named the title for a second year in a row.

Artur Aleksanyan entered his second Olympic competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Artur Aleksanyan won consecutive matches against Daigoro Timoncini, Alin Alexuc-Ciurariu, Cenk Ildem, and Yasmany Lugo and won the gold medal.

Artur Aleksanyan became the first Armenian Olympic Champion of the 21st century.

Artur Aleksanyan was the first wrestler to win two World Championships in between Olympics followed by winning an Olympic gold medal since Aleksandr Karelin in 1996.

Artur Aleksanyan was the flag bearer of Armenia at the closing ceremony.

Artur Aleksanyan dedicated his medal to the Armenian soldiers protecting the border and the victims of the conflict.

Artur Aleksanyan stated he wore the picture of Abajyan so that the whole world would recognize their heroes and wished that their heroes would not be forgotten.

Artur Aleksanyan won the silver medal in the 97 kg event at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan.

Artur Aleksanyan won the gold medal in the 97kg event at the 2022 World Wrestling Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia.

In 2024, Artur Aleksanyan won the silver medal in the 97kg event at the Summer Olympics held in Paris, France.

Artur Aleksanyan has been nicknamed the "White Bear" by his fans.

In October 2016, Artur Aleksanyan became an honorary citizen of Yerevan, along with fellow 2016 Olympic wrestling champion Mihran Harutyunyan.

Artur Aleksanyan was awarded the Khorenatsi medal in 2012, the "For Merit" 1st degree medal in 2014, and the "For Service to Fatherland" 2nd degree medal in 2015.