Gebeshian: Together, We as Armenians Make it Possible
06-09-2016 23:03:09 | USA | Sport
‘I Truly Believe that Inherent Armenian Spirit and Drive Within Me—The Same Spirit That is in All of You—Is What has Pushed me to Keep Going and to be Better.’
My name is Houry Gebeshian and I am the first female gymnast to represent the Republic of Armenia at the Olympic Games. I just returned from Rio, and I want share my journey with you. I was the only elite gymnast who trained herself, coached herself, and funded herself, by working full-time as a physician assistant. I spent half my day in the gym and the other half in the operating room helping to deliver babies. I am also a step-mom, but most importantly I am an Armenian woman. I believe it is because of my Armenian heritage, that I am capable of handling so many things.
At some point in my gymnastic career, I realized it was our unwavering Armenian spirit that would push me to the pinnacle of my athletic career. However, this did not come without struggles and obstacles. We have all had to overcome challenges in our lifetime. It is just part of our national identity.
Through hard work and planning, I knew it was possible.
Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy. The last two years were some of the most difficult years of my life, but last month, all that hard work finally paid off. I competed at the Olympics Games, representing our country, doing the sport that has given me a purpose in life. I had the best competition of my life, enjoyed every moment of it, and I even invented a new gymnastics element. My name is now immortalized in the gymnastics world for my skill on the uneven bars called “The Gebeshian.”
But more importantly, The Gebeshian name will forever be known as the first female gymnast to compete for our homeland at the Olympic Games.
All of the sacrifice, hard work, dedication, and perseverance was well worth it. There was no prouder moment than when I stepped out onto the competition floor, at the largest sporting event in the world, wearing red, blue, and orange tricolor and Mount Ararat on my chest.
My entire life I was told that I was an insignificant Armenian girl whose dreams were too big. Little did I know, I would have to prove myself over and over again.
I truly believe that inherent Armenian spirit and drive within me—the same spirit that is in all of you—is what has pushed me to keep going and to be better. Because that is what we Armenians do. Just like our martyrs who didn’t give up on their beliefs, I never gave up on mine, and neither should any of you.
I challenge all of you to believe in your dreams no matter what they are and no matter who tells you that they are impossible.
Together, we as Armenians make it possible. It is never too late to deliver your dream.
This piece was adapted from Gebeshian’s address to the 83rd AYF Olympics hosted by the New Jersey “Arsen” chapter on Sept. 1-5.
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