Career
He was awarded the Master of Sport of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics, International Class title in 1991 and the Honored Master of Sports of Armenia title in 1996. Mkrtchyan began his wrestling career under Razmik Karapetyan and, in 1992 and for the rest of his career, under Grant Yenokyan. After the collapse of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics in 1991, he represented Armenia at international competitions.
Because Mkrtchyan had ranked in the top six wrestlers of his division, he received automatic qualification to return to Atlanta in a year"s time to compete at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Mkrtchyan and Kim both put up a bitter struggle in a back and forth match. In the end, Mkrtchyan lost by one point, 4-5.
This had been the closest to defeat Kim had come to in five years. Mkrtchyan became the first ever Olympic silver medalist from Armenia.
In 1997, Mkrtchyan moved up to a heavier weight class, moving from paperweight (48 kg) to flyweight (54 kg).
He was unable to qualify for the 2000 Summer Olympics. After winning a bronze medal at the 2001 Wrestling European Championships, Mkrtchyan retired.
