Armenia weightlifting coach Ashot Mkhitaryan, 51, died of a heart attack in Zvartnots International Airport on May 23, when welcoming the youth weightlifting team returning from Valencia after the European Championships.

Mkhitaryan had trained the national team since 2006. Under his guidance, Armenia won 6 bronze medals at Olympic games in Beijing, as well as many gold and silver medals at European and World Championships.