Armenia's Arthur Davtyan: I dedicate this achievement to my country

By Lusine Shahbazyan

I dedicate the Olympic silver medal and this achievement to my country. Olympic silver and bronze medalist, world champion, and two-time European champion Arthur Davtyan, who returned to Armenia Tuesday with the Armenian national gymnastics team, stated this at Zvartnots International Airport of Yerevan.

The silver medalist of the Paris Olympic Games was welcomed as a champion in the homeland.

"At first, I was a little sad because the desire to win the gold medal [in Paris] was great. But it's sports, and it is possible that I wouldn’t place anywhere. I'd be sadder then. In this case, I improved my result—from an Olympic bronze medal to a silver medal. As they say, I probably will be able to win a gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics.

There was a chance of winning gold in Paris, but did not work. I lacked the difficulty of my second jump, as the [difficulty of the] Filipino gymnast’s jump was 4 decimal higher from my jump. In addition, the jump leap of the Filipino was scored highly. Not only I say this; everyone was saying. I have to work, make my exercise more difficult so that no matter how low they score [it], it will not work.

This time my feelings were much stronger when I returned to the homeland. I am glad and proud that I was able to win a medal and return to the homeland with a medal. There were a large number of Armenians at the Paris gym—our athletes, the Armenian community of France. I felt great support. And my brothers had arrived in France especially from

Germany to follow my competitions from the gym and support me. It was very nice.

I can't say what the next step in my sports career will be. Only the Olympic gold medal is missing in my medal collection. I will strive to fill that gap. I dedicate my Olympic silver medal and this achievement to my country. I can't separate anyone. This achievement is my country’s, "Arthur Davtyan said.

On August 4, Davtyan won a silver medal in the Vault exercise of the Men's Artistic Gymnastics competition at the Paris Olympics.