Prominent Wrestling Figure Stepan Ghazaryan Passes Away

Prominent wrestler, coach, and referee Stepan Levon Ghazaryan has passed away at the age of 84. This was reported by the Armenian Wrestling Federation on their Facebook page.

Stepan Ghazaryan was born on June 29, 1935, in Yerevan. He graduated from the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture in 1957 and from the Yerevan Veterinary Institute in 1971. From 1961 to 1968, he served as the coach of the Soviet Armenian Greco-Roman wrestling team, becoming the head coach in 1963.

Between 1968 and 1970, he was sent to Cambodia, where he trained local wrestlers. Tragically, 35 of his 40 students became victims of Pol Pot's military regime.

From 1970 to 1987, he served as the chairman of the Sevan Sports Society, and from 1987 to 1991, he was the chairman of the Armenia Sports Society. Since 1965, he was the chief referee in Greco-Roman wrestling, officiating competitions in the USSR, the Olympic Games, the World and European Championships.

Since 1987, he was a member of the International Wrestling Federation, serving as a coordinator, and from 1991, he was the coach of the Greek Greco-Roman wrestling team.

He was awarded the Movses Khorenatsi Medal, as well as gold, silver, and bronze medals from the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia and the International Wrestling Federation, along with a gold whistle.