Armenia at the Paralympics
Encyclopedia
Armenia
made its Paralympic Games
début at the 1996 Summer Paralympics
in Atlanta, with just two entries: Gagik Gasparian in powerlifting
(men's up to 82 kg), and a four-person team in the mixed crewboat event in sailing. Two years later, Armenia made its Winter Paralympics début, with eight competitors in alpine skiing
. The country has participated in every subsequent event of both the Summer and Winter Paralympics, although its delegations have generally been small.
No Armenian has ever won a Paralympic medal, though Mher Avanesyan
holds the distinction of being one of few athletes to have competed at both Summer and Winter Games. He competed in alpine skiing in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010, and in sailing in 2000.
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
made its Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
début at the 1996 Summer Paralympics
1996 Summer Paralympics
The 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, USA were held from 16 August to 25 August. It was the first Paralympics to get mass media sponsorship, and had a budget of USD $81 million....
in Atlanta, with just two entries: Gagik Gasparian in powerlifting
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
(men's up to 82 kg), and a four-person team in the mixed crewboat event in sailing. Two years later, Armenia made its Winter Paralympics début, with eight competitors in alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
. The country has participated in every subsequent event of both the Summer and Winter Paralympics, although its delegations have generally been small.
No Armenian has ever won a Paralympic medal, though Mher Avanesyan
Mher Avanesyan
Mher Avanesyan is an Armenian double arm amputee alpine skiier and competitive sailor.At the age of seven, Avanesyan touched a high-voltage wire at a power station, and lost both arms...
holds the distinction of being one of few athletes to have competed at both Summer and Winter Games. He competed in alpine skiing in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010, and in sailing in 2000.