Olympic weightlifter Vardan Militosyan dies at 64

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) Vardan Militosyan, an Olympic silver medalist and two-time European champion weightlifter for the Soviet Union, has died. He was 64.

The Armenian Olympic Committee said Militosyan died Wednesday evening ''following a serious illness.''

Competing for the Soviet Union, Militosyan won the silver medal in the 75-kilogram category at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and was twice a world championship silver medalist. He also won the European 75kg title in 1976 and 1978 and set five world records during his career.

Militosyan later became a coach in his native Armenia, training weightlifters including his nephew Israel Militosyan, who went on to win Olympic gold in 1992.