‘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.’
Special for the Armenian Weekly
When the idea was proposed for me to attend and address the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Olympics, I couldn’t think of anywhere else I should be. It truly was an honor and a pleasure to be amongst such a great group of AYF Olympians.
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.
I am a first generation Armenian-American. I grew up in an Armenian household, ate Armenian food, went to St. Stephens Armenian church and school in Watertown, Mass., and spoke the language. However, the majority of my time was spent outside the home and in the gym. I took somewhat of an unconventional route to fully gain an appreciation for who we are as a group.
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. My story is one that is not very different from many of you. We have all had to overcome challenges in our lifetime. It is just part of our national identity.
From a young age I was told that I did not have the talent and that someone like me did not belong. But I remained strong and had the desire to work hard and be great. Through determination and hard work, I was one of the lucky few who earned a scholarship to compete for the University of Iowa’s gymnastics team. The highlight of my collegiate career was becoming the Big Ten Champion on the balance beam.
During my junior year of college my family discussed the possibility of me competing for Armenia with a close family friend, Paul Varadian. My goal was to compete at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Unfortunately, I suffered an injury weeks before the qualifying event, forcing me to compete at a subpar level. I was left as an alternate for the 2012 Olympics.
I was devastated. I gave up on gymnastics and isolated myself from my friends and family. At that point I had competed in gymnastics for over 15 years of my life. Gymnastics was my identity. What was I going to do now that I was no longer a gymnast?
Eventually I moved on. I chose to pursue my master’s degree in Physician Assistant (PA) studies at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. I thought my career in medicine would fill the void left by gymnastics.
I was wrong.
During my medical training, I met my now fiancé Duane. He played football in college and ironically had a very similar story where an injury cut his dreams short. He understood what that void felt like, and he encouraged me to return back to the sport I loved. I was once again on the Olympic pursuit.
Once I graduated from PA school, I had two years to get ready for the 2016 Olympic Games. Unfortunately, since I had failed previously, the Armenian Gymnastics Federation was not necessarily supportive of my decision to come back to gymnastics.
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 was essentially on my own to make this dream a reality. I moved to Cleveland, Ohio and found a job working for the Cleveland Clinic as a physician assistant in the operating room. I was 20 pounds overweight; I hadn’t set foot in a gym in three years; and I didn’t have a coach. Even though it seemed overwhelming, I sat down and I planned out the next two years of my life. I wrote out all of my training plans, routines, diet ideas, strength and conditioning, work schedule, social life, everything that would get me from being a nobody to an Olympian.
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.
Houry Gebeshian
Latest posts by Houry Gebeshian (see all)
- Gebeshian: Together, We as Armenians Make it Possible - September 6, 2016
Just wonderful the only way to reach the top
Hazar abris, Houri. A message for the ages…to Armenian women, true, but also to ALL Armenians as we face the “Sisyphusian” task of keeping our identity in the Diaspora and inhospitable places, keeping our homeland, keeping Artsakh, and continuing to work towards our just and noble cause.
Sireli Houry,
Congratulations! You were able to achieve your dream against all odds. For us, you have always won!
I remember how hard your mother worked and supported your exceptional talent.
It was her dream, too, to see your name immortalized.
BRAVO! Great Accomplishment for You and all Armenians.
When I had the pleasure of meeting you at the 2016 Armenian Diocesan Assembly in Cleveland, I just knew you were a champion.
Abris abris abris… that Armenian spirit of yours echoes in all of us. We, the children and grandchildren of the Armenian Genocide survivors, keep our determination, survival instinct and unequivocal force going and going. We are so so proud of you. The article brought tears to my eyes. Nothing can match that strong spirit.
God bless you. Hugs from Toronto P.S. Just loved your gym outfit