Armenian weightlifter Varazdat Lalayan wins first European gold

Armenian weightlifter Varazdat Lalayan clinched his first-ever European title on the final day of the 2024 European Weightlifting Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The super heavyweight won the gold medal with a total lift of 455kg (205kg in the snatch and 250kg in the clean and jerk) on Tuesday.

Armenia’s Simon Martirosyan took silver in the same weight class with a combined total of 437kg.

Armenia topped the medals table ahead of Bulgaria and Italy after winning a total of 11 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze medals.