Karina Aznavourian


Karina Borisovna Aznavourian is a Russian épée fencer. She won two gold medals in the team épée event at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics. Also won bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Biography

Karina Aznavourian was born on September 20, 1974 in Baku in an Armenian-Azerbaijani family. Started fencing in Baku under the leadership of Olga Matlina. In 1990, after the Armenian pogroms in Baku, she and her family were forced to move to Moscow. Having changed the type of weapon from the rapier to the Épée, she began to train under the guidance of Alexander Kislyunin.
She graduated from the Olympic Reserve School No. 3, then graduated from the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism.
In 1996, as part of the Russian national team became the bronze medalist at the Olympics Games in Atlanta. In 1997, she won the silver medals of the 19th Universiade, both in team and individual competitions. Later in the Russian team won the Olympic Games in Sydney and Athens, then she won the World Championships in 2003 and Europe Championships in 2004. She did not take part in the Olympic Games in Beijing, as she was unable to score the necessary rating points for the individual Olympic tournament due to the injury on her spine, and the women's team fencing competition was not included in the program of this Olympiad.
After completing her sports career in 2008, she headed the junior sports school of the Moscow Secondary Special School of Olympic Reserve No. 3, and in August 2012, she was appointed as a director of this school.

Awards