Yuri Patrikeev has become the dominant force at the heaviest category in European wrestling. For the second year in a row, the Olympic bronze medalist has won the Gold medal at the European Championships. Patrikeev almost repeated the incredible feat by Arsen Julfalakyan a day earlier as he defeated every opponent without giving up a point, except in the final where the Swedish opponent was able to take a couple of points.

Patrikeev earned victories over the German Nico Schmidt in the first round, who would eventually win the bronze medal by going thru the repechage. Patrikeev completely dominated the 2nd round and the quarterfinal round by winning over Lithuanian and Serbian wrestlers by submission. In the Semifinals Patrikeev defeated Panagiotis Papadopolous of Greece for a place in the final.

In the final, Patrikeev faced Jalmar Sjoeberg of Sweden who showed the fiercest competition for Patrikeev. After winning the first period, Patrikeev found himself down in the second period, and would concede his only point of a the tournament. Patrikeev took the third period 1-0 for a his second Gold medal in as many years and the second Gold medal for Team Armenia in as many days.

Watch by clicking on the link. Video will open in Windows Media-player.

1st Round

Patrikeev vs. Nico Schmidt (GER)

2nd Round

Patrikeev vs. Mizgaitis Mindaugas (LTU)

Quarterfinals

Patrikeev vs. Radomir Petkovic (SRB)

Semifinals

Patrikeev vs. Panagiotis Papadopolous (GRE)

Final

Patrikeev vs. Jalmar Sjoeberg (SWE)

In the days' other action, Denis Forov was able to win his first round match against the wrestler from Sweden, but lost in the second round to Melonin Noumonvi of France and finished in 10th place. In the 96kg category, after getting a bye in the first round Arman Geghamyan lost to Marek Svec of the Czech Republic and finished in 16th place.

verall in the Greco-roman category, with the two Gold Medals Team Armenia finished in 3rd place behind Russia and Poland. With the two Bronze medals and the Silver medal in the Freestyle category, and a 5th place finish for Team Armenia, it has been a fairly successful European Championships.

Please click below for video clips of all the matches from the 2009 European Wrestling Championships in Vilnius, Lithuania.

ATHLETE	WT.	Rd.1	Rd.2	Quarter-finals	Semi-finals	Final	Repechage 1.	Repechage 2.
Roman Amoyan	55kg	vs. UKR	vs. GRE	vs. RUS
Artak Harutyunyan	60kg	vs. RUS					vs. FRA	vs. ROU
Khosrov Melikyan	66kg	vs. SRB	vs. SWE
Arsen Julfalakyan	74kg	vs. CRO	vs. GER	vs. LAT	vs. BLR	vs. UKR
Denis Forov	84kg		vs. SWE	vs. FRA
Arman Geghamyan	96kg		vs. CZE
Yuri Patrikeev	120kg	vs. GER	vs. LTU	vs.SRB	vs. GRE	vs. SWE