The 2026 European Weightlifting Championships in Batumi, Georgia (April 19–26) concluded with a triumphant performance from the Armenian team. Armenia collected 9 gold, 8 silver and 7 bronze medals to finish first in the overall medal standings.
The men's team took team gold with 567 ranking points, while the women's team finished third with 424 points.
Three Armenian lifters were crowned European champions in the total: Varazdat Lalayan (+110 kg, 451 kg total — 210+241), Garik Karapetyan (110 kg, 415 kg — 189+226) and Emma Poghosyan (86 kg, 248 kg — 107+141, European junior record).
Silver: Garnik Cholakyan (60 kg, 274 kg), Gor Sahakyan (71 kg, 330 kg, snatch gold), Ara Aghanyan (94 kg, 382 kg) and Aleksandra Grigoryan (58 kg, 210 kg). Bronze: Martin Poghosyan (79 kg, 338 kg, C&J silver). Anna Amroyan took the small gold in the C&J of the 77 kg class with 136 kg. Liana Gyurdzhyan finished fifth in the 86 kg class with 236 kg, winning silver in the C&J.
Armenia was also represented by Simon Martirosyan (110 kg, 6th), Rafik Harutyunyan (88 kg, 7th), Tanzela Grigoryan and Izabella Yaylyan (53 kg), Alina Sukiasyan (77 kg) and Tatev Akopyan (+86 kg), who concluded her competitive career at this championships.
Summing up the results, WFA General Secretary Samvel Gasparyan noted that the team has three European champions and a positive trajectory, and that the coaching staff has already begun preparations for the 2026 World Championships in Ningbo, China.