Greta Vardanyan

Started: She began powerlifting at age 19 in Yerevan, Armenia. (Athlete, 03 Jun 2019, 08 Feb 2012) Reason: "Trying various sports, I was in search for a sport closer to my heart, so that I could carry on with it as my lifetime sport. Yes, it is powerlifting. I felt that I could be more successful in powerlifting than in other sports." (Agate Rights Defense Center For Women With Disabilities NGO Facebook page, 24 Feb 2023; shantnews.am, 22 Dec 2022) Ambition: To win gold at the Paralympic Games. (Athlete, 03 Jun 2019) Awards: She and athletics competitor Smbat Karapetyan were Armenia's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. She was also flag bearer for Armenia at the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in 2012 and 2016. (medias.paris2024.org, 28 Aug 2024; myinfo.rio2016.com, 06 Sep 2016; paralympic.org, 29 Aug 2012) Additional Info: OCCUPATION She has worked as an emergency services telephone operator in Armenia. "After graduation, I was hired into a job. I sent in my CV to the Ministry of Emergency Situations [in Armenia] to be employed as a phone operator. After a long wait, eight years ago [speaking in 2023], the minister signed the ordinance. I was hired into the crisis management centre of Shirak regional rescue department, as a phone operator." (Agate Rights Defense Center For Women With Disabilities NGO Facebook page, 24 Feb 2023; shantnews.am, 22 Dec 2022; Athlete, 03 Jun 2019)