My Impact
31.01.2025
7 min read
Repat Story
The Repatriate Behind Armenia's First and Only Triathlon Club
-webp(85)-o(jpg).webp?token=bc6e32c554d9e7083c4488292a1cdd25 "The Repatriate Behind Armenia's First and Only Triathlon Club")
Backstory
Just a few months ago, Triclub Yerevan celebrated its 10th anniversary. This club, which trains triathletes and promotes an active lifestyle, was founded by Vaagn Toukharian, who got into sports – specifically triathlon – during his years in the US. When he returned to Armenia 10 years ago, he brought with him not only the sport but also the foundation for Armenia's first and, so far, only triathlon club.
Vaagn grew up in Koti, a village in the Tavush region, where he spent his childhood gardening and hiking in the mountains. This environment instilled a love for an active lifestyle that stayed with him as he grew.
By profession, Vaagn is an expert in information security, working in the field for over 30 years, 13 of which were spent in the US. He moved there in 2000 after receiving a job offer from a major international company. It was in the US that he not only built his career but also started to seriously dive into sports.
Professional vs. Amateur Sports
"First, let’s clarify what we mean by sports. In Armenia, when people talk about sports, they often think of weightlifting, boxing, wrestling, Olympic medals and major championships,” Vaagn says. "But this perspective excludes ordinary people. Most people go to the gym to improve their appearance, ignoring the broader health benefits sports can bring for health, quality of life and work capacity. In Western countries, sports are seen as a mix of health and achievement. For example, kids join track clubs, where they’re encouraged to live healthily and set goals. It’s not just about physical fitness, but also about engaging in a positive hobby and boosting dopamine in a healthy way. In Armenia, that’s still rare. In America, it was easy. I'd go for a morning run, and half the neighborhood was out doing the same. In a small town of just 3,000 people, about 1,000 were out running. It’s hard not to be influenced by that. People tend to become the average of those around them.”
That’s how Vaagn started running, biking, and eventually training for triathlons. Later, he even competed in the Ironman series, which involves swimming 3.8 km, cycling 180 km, and finishing with a marathon.
Personal Achievements: Marathons and Ironman
Vaagn’s sports journey started with marathons in Silicon Valley, including the California International Marathon and the San Francisco Marathon. At 34, he completed his first full Ironman and has since participated in nine. He believes the Ironman experience is unique: “Ironman is a unique case where amateurs and professionals compete on the same playing field. It’s something you don’t see in marathons.”
“'Ironman offers an exceptional experience that professional sports can’t match. It’s pure sport, where you can’t bribe a referee. After one successful finish, the world champion himself placed a medal around my neck. In Ironman, you can race alongside your heroes, and that’s a rare opportunity,” says Vaagn
Paving Way for Repatriation
While the US fostered Vaagn’s sports culture, it didn’t change his deep ties to Armenia. His children attended Armenian Sunday school, and the family visited Armenia every year. After 13 years in the US, they decided to return.
“We reached a point where we either become Americans or leave,” he says. “Life in America pushes you to be constantly on the go, becoming a ‘slave’ to work. Yes, America offers endless opportunities to make money, but it takes away just as much. So when we decided to change our lives, we chose to move to Armenia.”
Moving to Armenia and Founding TriClub Yerevan
When Vaagn and his family repatriated in 2013, he continued his work in information security but also resumed his personal training. However, what truly pushed him to train consitently was the creation of TriClub Yerevan. At that time, no one in Armenia was practicing triathlon, and there were no triathlon clubs. Vaagn shares, “TriClub Yerevan wasn’t created to promote the sport. It was created so that I could have a place to train and find friends to train with. The club's growth was driven by the dedication of its members. A small group that started training together became a team that gives more than it receives.”
Today, TriClub Yerevan is more than just a training facility; it’s a community with three guiding principles: to love sport, to help develop sport – especially triathlon – and to support the organization of sporting events both within the club and with its friends.
“We’re all about amateur sports’, Vaagn says.
The Club’s Activities
TriClub Yerevan contributes to the organization of the Yerevan Marathon and Savage of Sevan. This is the result of long efforts that were neither planned nor designed — it happened thanks to dedication to endurance sports.
TriClub Yerevan not only organizes weekly training sessions but also fosters a community for running, cycling, and triathlon, hosting various events. For 10 years now, they have been running triathlons at Lake Sevan for all age groups, and they also hold a New Year’s run.
“While others prepare for stress and heart disease from overeating, we ‘die’ from long runs and marathons, training in the same places where we hold our races,” jokes Vaagn.
The club’s founder also runs free training sessions for those who want to run a marathon or achieve an Ironman title. In November last year, the club took part in a marathon in Larnaca, where 30 club members participated in the marathon, half-marathon, and shorter distances.
“We didn’t try to make everyone an Ironman. We said, ‘Come run!’ Once people got comfortable with running, we introduced them to swimming, then cycling. It’s an organic process with no artificial steps. Now that we have experience, we can specifically train future Ironman competitors,” Vaagn says.
Thanks to TriClub Yerevan’s training, 13 members returned from Austria last year with the Ironman title.
MarzIQ: Bringing Sports to Armenian Regions
TriClub Yerevan also launched MarzIQ, a project aimed at bringing the importance of sports to young people in Armenia’s regions. The goal is simple: teach them that amateur sports can improve health, build competitive spirit and lead to results.
“We want kids to understand that sports isn’t just about being healthy; it’s also about pushing yourself and growing,” Vaagn says. “We started in Tavush because I’m from there and there’s no cultural barrier. Our house in Koti can accommodate those who want to interact with the children. We’re targeting 80 schools, encouraging kids to run and get involved in healthy activities. This is not just to get them involved in a healthy lifestyle, but also to help them strive for improvement and personal growth. Running is a way to achieve results, to push beyond limits.
In many countries, scholarships cover students' education based on their athletic achievements. So we thought why not do the same? We decided to fund the education of students who train with MarzIQ, compete and achieve top results. From each region where the program runs, three top-performing girls and three top-performing boys in the 12th grade receive scholarships based on their performance in qualifying and final competitions. The program is open to students enrolling in full-time, non-humanities university programs, and it covers their first year of tuition,” explains Vaagn, introducing the MarzIQ initiative.
To make this program a reality, club members travel to villages, stay there, talk to the kids and train them. Sometimes they’re welcomed with open arms; other times, they face skepticism. Some suspect political motives or assume the program is funded by foreign grants with hidden agendas. But in reality, it runs entirely on volunteer efforts and donations from amateur athletes who support the cause. As Vaagn admits, “Where people believe in us, accept us and support us, that’s where we make the biggest impact.”
On Government’s Role in Developing Amateur Sports
Vaagn believes the government should take the lead in developing amateur sports: “The state needs a strategy for developing endurance sports and amateur sports in general. It’s essential to create an environment that encourages participation. Every school should have a running track and a pool. The government should allocate funds for building this infrastructure. This would not only benefit education but also healthcare. If the government invested in these facilities, we’d see a healthier population in 5-10 years. Running is the king of all sports – it’s simple, accessible, and enjoyable. Amateur sports should be accessible to everyone”
“In Armenia, the idea of amateur sports is misunderstood. It’s not about having prize money. Amateur sports are about overcoming oneself. In the end, they do the opposite – during the Prime Minister’s Cup, they give money to amateur athletes while taking it away from professional ones. That funding should go into professional sports to ensure athletes don’t leave the sport too soon. As for amateur athletes, the focus should be on developing an environment and infrastructure that allows them to train comfortably,” Vaagn says.
Despite the challenges in Yerevan, where running and triathlon are not as easily practiced due to the city’s layout, dozens of athletes from TriClub Yerevan participate in international sports events.
Over the past decade, TriClub Yerevan has helped train 30 Ironman champions and countless marathoners, and it shows no sign of slowing down. This year, the club is aiming for new challenges with plans to participate in Ironman Italy, Half Ironman Cyprus, and the Larnaca Marathon, all while continuing its local races and training initiatives.
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