AWPC World Powerlifting Championship 2019, from l to r: President of WPC Mike Sweeney, Secretary of WPC Amy Jackson, Vachagan Baghdagyulyan

Vachagan Baghdagyulyan, a professional master trainer Gold’s Gym in Armenia, won first place in his weight category at the AWPC World Powerlifting Championship in Orlando, Fla. The World Powerlifting Congress consists of 46 countries worldwide that participate in the annual championships. This year, the event was held from August 15 to 17.

Baghdagyulyan received the highest scores and becoming a 2019 World Champion of AWPC. His competition results were as follows:

1. Squat: 567 lbs
2. Bench Press: 391 lbs
3. Deadlift: 639 lbs

Vachagan Baghdagyulyan at the 2019 World Powerlifting Championship

Baghdagyulyan was born on February 23, 1988 in Armenia, the city of Yerevan. He studied at a comprehensive school, Belinsky, from the 1995 to 2005. At the age of 10, Vachagan began playing professional soccer. He played for well-known teams in Armenia, in local team leagues, as well as major leagues.

In 2009, Vachagan graduated from the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Coaching. At the University, he began to engage in arm wrestling. During a competition between athletes of different professional institutes of the country, he was able to take the first place.

After graduating from university, he served in the army from 2009 to 2011. Continuing his arm wrestling competitions while in the army, he became a two-time champion.

Vachagan became an arm wrestling medalist in the national championship.

Upon returning from the army, he worked at Armenia’s Gold’s Gym, as a fitness trainer, from 2011 to 2013. In 2013, he received became certified as an international fitness trainer.

Between 2013 and 2017, he worked at the Mega Sport fitness center in St. Petersburg Russia.

After leaving his position at Mega Sport, Vachagan began working at Armenia’s Gold’s Gym as a Pro Master Trainer.

In 2017, he received the title “Master of Sports of International Class” from the Minister of Sports of Armenia.

Baghdagyulyan is a Pro Master Trainer from Armenia’s Gold’s Gym

Vachagan’s accomplishments include:

1. Master of Sports of international class in deadlift
2. Master of sports in the bench press
3. Master of sports in powerlifting
4. Prizewinner of St. Petersburg in the bench press (2015)
5. Winner of the European Deadlift (2015)
6. Champion of St. Petersburg in deadlift
7. Absolute champion of the Northwestern Federal District in deadlift (2016)
8. Absolute winner of St. Petersburg Powerlifting (2017)
9. Winner of the Russian Open Deadlift Championship (2016)
10. Winner of the World Cup of Deadlifts (Moscow, Russia) (2017)
11. Prizewinner of the World Deadlift Championship (Kursk, Russia 2016)
12. Winner of the St. Petersburg Powerlifting Cup (2017)
13. 3rd place in deadlift, at the 35th WPC Powerlifting World Championship among professionals (U.S., Orlando 2018)
14. 1st place in the AWPC World Powerlifting Championship 2019 (U.S., Orlando) with the results of 1598 lbs