In 1958–1959 one of his teachers, who noticed his strong looks, told him "You won't make a violinist.

He used to play with Boycho Branzov, a Bulgarian basketball player who became a key member of the national team.

Abadjiev offered Nurikyan to start training with him, feeling his talents were better spent in weightlifting.

He then went to the Higher School of Sports, where Abadjiev was now the federative coach of Sofia.

[3] In 1969, Nurikyan achieved his first international success outside Bulgaria, becoming third in European and fifth in the world that year.

During preparations in Bulgaria for the 1972 Summer Olympics, Nurikyan broke a bone in his right wrist in January 1972 and couldn't train.

[3] On the first day of the 1972 Olympic Games, the bus that was taking them to the hall burst into flames.

Abadjiev told Norair the one with the stronger mind and character will become Olympic Champion.

In order to win the Olympic gold medal, Nurikyan needed to lift 157.5 kg in the clean and jerk, which would be a new world record.

The three white lamps lit up and Nurikyan became the Olympic gold medalist and set the division total record at 402.5 kg.

Nurikyan was unable to set a total at the World Championships that year and Abadjiev was greatly criticized.