Garnik Cholakyan Wins Silver at the 2026 European Weightlifting Championships

Armenian weightlifter Garnik Cholakyan won the silver medal at the 2026 European Championships, bringing Armenia its first medal of the tournament.

The competition is being held in Batumi, where Cholakyan competed in the 60 kg weight category. The Armenian athlete delivered a strong performance, finishing second in the snatch and third in clean and jerk. His total in the combined event was 274 kg (124 kg in the snatch + 150 kg in the clean and jerk).

It is worth noting that compared to the previous European Championship, Cholakyan improved his result — in 2025 he won bronze, and now he has moved one step higher.

The gold medal was claimed by Bulgaria’s Angel Rusev, who became a six-time European champion with a total of 275 kg (120+155). The bronze medal went to Turkey’s Yigit Erdogan with 269 kg (121+148).

Rusev was in sixth place after the snatch but managed to lift the required 155 kg in his third clean and jerk attempt, surpassing Cholakyan by just 1 kg.

Final Results (Men, 60 kg)

• Angel Rusev (Bulgaria) — 275 kg (120+155)
• Garnik Cholakyan (Armenia) — 274 kg (124+150)
• Yigit Erdogan (Turkey) — 269 kg (121+148)

Today, Armenia’s Alexandra Grigoryan will also compete in the women’s 58 kg category.