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BIG ARMENIAN HEART: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE 'STRONGEST MAN OF GERMANY'
by Lilly Torosyan
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/08/29/the-strongest-man-of-germany/
August 29, 2012
Born in Iran to Armenian parents, Patrik Baboumian always knew he
wanted to become an international strongman. One of his fondest
memories with his father, now deceased, was watching the Incredible
Hulk rip off his shirt and magically transform into a green robust
monster. At the age of seven, the hopeful athlete moved with his
mother and grandmother to Germany, where he began to cultivate his
skill for strength.
Patrik Baboumian Shortly after breaking the German heavyweight loglift
record last year, the sportsman achieved the title of Germany's
"Strongest Man."
The current world log lift record-holder in the 105k-category (165
kg), Baboumian has plans to triumph in the World's Strongest Man
competition this month.
The Armenian Weekly's Lilly Torosyan conducted the following interview
with the German-Armenian strongman.
***
Lilly Torosyan: When did you first realize that you could make a
serious career out of weightlifting and bodybuilding?
Patrik Baboumian: I always had faith in my plans of building a career
in strength sports, but initially I was the only one that actually
believed it. My mother was my biggest obstacle when I decided to get
a gym membership as a 15-year-old. She was worried about potentially
bad influences that I could pick up in the gym. Now, she is quite
happy that I resisted her and pursued what turned out to be my destiny.
LT: Before moving to Germany at the age of seven, you lived in Iran,
and witnessed the Islamic Revolution. How did that shape your life?
PB: I have experienced a great deal of uncertainty in my early life and
therefore, I always tend to avoid uncertainty by planning my future.
LT: You've been a vegetarian since 2005. What prompted your desire
to switch to a vegan diet?
PB: I have been on a vegan diet for nine months now, and I have never
felt better in my entire life. Since I have chosen this lifestyle
for ethical reasons, I will stick to it-regardless of my career. My
daily regimen consists of a lot of soy-products, beans, and nuts as
protein sources, and rice potatoes and oats as my energy sources. I
also eat fruits and green smoothies several times a day to get all
of the micronutrients my body needs to stay healthy and fit.
LT: Many Armenians have proved successful in demanding sports such
as boxing, weightlifting, and wrestling. What, in your opinion,
explains this success?
PB: I have always had the feeling that Armenians are particularly hardy
people and to be successful in demanding sports like weightlifting,
strongman, or wrestling, you need to have a big, tough heart.
LT: What are your upcoming events?
PB: I have broken two world records this year and I have won the
European championships in RAW-Power lifting (GPA). Next stop is the
Log Lift World Championships, where I finished fourth last year and
hope to be good for a podium finish this year.
LT: How does it feel to be named "Strongest Man of Germany"?
PB: After I won the title of Germany's Strongest Man and decided to
go vegan, I received a lot of media attention here in Germany and
many sponsorship offers from big German companies, so it seemed that
my day had come and suddenly everything I had worked for in the last
20 years started paying off. In the end, though, it is just another
title and I do not care too much about those. What I really enjoy
is going into every new day, trying to outdo myself and be a better
Patrik than the day before.
by Lilly Torosyan
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/08/29/the-strongest-man-of-germany/
August 29, 2012
Born in Iran to Armenian parents, Patrik Baboumian always knew he
wanted to become an international strongman. One of his fondest
memories with his father, now deceased, was watching the Incredible
Hulk rip off his shirt and magically transform into a green robust
monster. At the age of seven, the hopeful athlete moved with his
mother and grandmother to Germany, where he began to cultivate his
skill for strength.
Patrik Baboumian Shortly after breaking the German heavyweight loglift
record last year, the sportsman achieved the title of Germany's
"Strongest Man."
The current world log lift record-holder in the 105k-category (165
kg), Baboumian has plans to triumph in the World's Strongest Man
competition this month.
The Armenian Weekly's Lilly Torosyan conducted the following interview
with the German-Armenian strongman.
***
Lilly Torosyan: When did you first realize that you could make a
serious career out of weightlifting and bodybuilding?
Patrik Baboumian: I always had faith in my plans of building a career
in strength sports, but initially I was the only one that actually
believed it. My mother was my biggest obstacle when I decided to get
a gym membership as a 15-year-old. She was worried about potentially
bad influences that I could pick up in the gym. Now, she is quite
happy that I resisted her and pursued what turned out to be my destiny.
LT: Before moving to Germany at the age of seven, you lived in Iran,
and witnessed the Islamic Revolution. How did that shape your life?
PB: I have experienced a great deal of uncertainty in my early life and
therefore, I always tend to avoid uncertainty by planning my future.
LT: You've been a vegetarian since 2005. What prompted your desire
to switch to a vegan diet?
PB: I have been on a vegan diet for nine months now, and I have never
felt better in my entire life. Since I have chosen this lifestyle
for ethical reasons, I will stick to it-regardless of my career. My
daily regimen consists of a lot of soy-products, beans, and nuts as
protein sources, and rice potatoes and oats as my energy sources. I
also eat fruits and green smoothies several times a day to get all
of the micronutrients my body needs to stay healthy and fit.
LT: Many Armenians have proved successful in demanding sports such
as boxing, weightlifting, and wrestling. What, in your opinion,
explains this success?
PB: I have always had the feeling that Armenians are particularly hardy
people and to be successful in demanding sports like weightlifting,
strongman, or wrestling, you need to have a big, tough heart.
LT: What are your upcoming events?
PB: I have broken two world records this year and I have won the
European championships in RAW-Power lifting (GPA). Next stop is the
Log Lift World Championships, where I finished fourth last year and
hope to be good for a podium finish this year.
LT: How does it feel to be named "Strongest Man of Germany"?
PB: After I won the title of Germany's Strongest Man and decided to
go vegan, I received a lot of media attention here in Germany and
many sponsorship offers from big German companies, so it seemed that
my day had come and suddenly everything I had worked for in the last
20 years started paying off. In the end, though, it is just another
title and I do not care too much about those. What I really enjoy
is going into every new day, trying to outdo myself and be a better
Patrik than the day before.