Vanes Martirosyan is the first EVER Armenian to represent the United States of America in the Olympics.
He represented their boxing team in the 2004 Athens Olympics.
This is definitely an accomplishment we can ALL be proud of.
http://www.usaboxing.org/Vanes_head_shot.jpg
an Article from USAboxing.org
MARTIROSYAN SHOWCASES THE TRUE OLYMPIC SPIRIT
ATHENS, GREECE – After welterweight (152 lbs/69 kg) Vanes Martirosyan (Glendale, Calif.) earned a spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, fellow Olympic Team Trials – Boxing competitor Andre Berto (Winter Haven, Fla./Haiti) chose to use his dual citizenship to compete for the Haitian Olympic Boxing team. Although the two athletes were competitors, they always maintained a friendly relationship, at least outside the ring.
Martirosyan and Berto share more than just boxing, both know what it means to come to the Olympic Games representing two countries. Martirosyan is boxing for the United States but feels that he is competing for his native country of Armenia as well. Berto was boxing for Haiti but the American teenager also wanted to make the United States proud.
Martirosyan earned a first round victory on Sunday afternoon over Benamar Meskine of Algeria, and Berto competed for the first time on Sunday night. During Berto’s bout, Martirosyan stood in one of the front rows of the Peristeri Boxing Hall in Athens, Greece. Martirosyan didn’t just come to scout or watch his possible future opponent, he stood and cheered for him, encouraging him in his first round contest. Although Berto fell just short, losing 36-34 to Xavier Noel of France, Martirosyan showed true class and sportsmanship as well as the Olympic spirit in coming to support his fellow boxer.
Martirosyan will compete in his second round bout on Thursday, August, 19, when he takes on defending World Champion Lorenzo Armenteros Aragon.