The Olympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling will be held in Paris on August 5-7. One of the outstanding wrestlers of Armenia, world champion and three-time European champion, Malkhas Amoyan, will also participate in this big tournament. Malkhas gave an interview to ArmenPress before the competition.

- Malkhas, Paris 2024 - Your first Olympic Games. What do these Games mean to you and what will be your task at this important event?

- We have been going through the full preparatory phase for several weeks now. This is my first Olympic Games. On my way to Paris, I do everything to achieve my goal of returning from the Olympic Games with a gold medal. And what will happen on this day, the carpet will show.

- What is your motivation on this path?

- I have always been motivated by faith in God. It's also about believing in yourself. But motivation is nothing without discipline and hard work. The unity of this brings the desired result.

- At previous games, we witnessed the “burnout” of our athletes, to put it in sports language. Do you understand that you too have to go through such a difficult path?

“Not only my friends went this way, but also my uncle.” I've seen what can happen to an athlete. But we also have the legendary Arthur Aleksanyan on our team, he has vast experience, he has come a long way. We always discuss everything, and I always get the same answer, that the Olympic Games need to be approached in the same way as, for example, the World or European Championships. And I try to prepare for them mentally.

- Your weight category is 77 kg, one of the impressive ones. What kind of competition are you looking forward to?

- I don’t want to underestimate or overestimate athletes in our weight category. There are 16 participants in this weight category, and we are all equal.

- Do you have something to prove to yourself?

“I think I have something to prove to myself.” I have determined my goal, and my first opponent is myself. First I have to overcome myself, and then others.

- And at the end, please finish the sentence: The Olympic Games in Paris will be for me...

- ... special.