Eleftherios "Lefteris" Petrounias ( gr, Ελευθέριος "Λευτέρης" Πετρούνιας; born 30 November 1990, Athens) is a

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

artistic gymnast. He is the 2016 Olympic champion, 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, three-time World champion (

2015 File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the Apri ...

, 2017, 2018) and a six-time (2011, 2015–18, 2021, 2022) European medalist on the

still rings The rings, also known as still rings (in contrast to flying rings), is an artistic gymnastics apparatus and the event that uses it. It is traditionally used only by male gymnasts, due to its extreme upper body strength requirements. Gymnasts oft ...

(six gold and one bronze). He was named the

Greek Male Athlete of the Year The PSAT Sports Awards (Greek: Αθλητικά Βραβεία ΠΣΑΤ) are the annual sports awards that are issued by the Panhellenic Sports Press Association (PSAT). The awards are given to the year's top performing individual athletes, in the ...

, for the years 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Early life and education

Petrounias grew up as a hyperactive child, and at the age of five, his mother brought him to the Panionios Gymnastics Club so that he could release his energy. He later injured his finger and has two screws inserted in it; he also had two

hernia A hernia is the abnormal exit of tissue or an organ (anatomy), organ, such as the bowel, through the wall of the cavity in which it normally resides. Various types of hernias can occur, most commonly involving the abdomen, and specifically the gr ...

surgeries. At the age of 14, he took a three-year break from gymnastics due to physical and emotional fatigue. Petrounias has a degree in communications and marketing from the

Athens University of Economics and Business Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB; el, Οικονομικό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών, ''Oikonomiko Panepistimio Athinon'', abbrev. ΟΠΑ, OPA) was founded in 1920 in Athens, Greece and is the oldest university in Gre ...

. Besides gymnastics, he practices

parkour Parkour () is an athletic training discipline or sport in which practitioners (called ''traceurs'') attempt to get from point A to point B in the fastest and most efficient way possible, without assisting equipment and often while performing a ...

. He takes part in anti-bullying campaigns, as he was bullied himself when he was child due to his small size.

Career

2011 European Championships

Petrounias's debut major international medal came when he competed at the 2011 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

, at the age of 20. During the Championships, Petrounias won a Bronze Medal on the rings. He scored 15.675 during the final, behind Konstantin Pluzhnikov (15.850) and Aleksandr Balandin (15.775) of

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...

2015 European Championships

2015 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships - Rings - Eleftherios Petrounias 03

In April 2015, Petrounias competed in the 2015 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Montpellier, France. He won gold during the rings final during the championships, scoring 15.866 during the final - 0.300 points ahead of tied silver medalists

Samir Aït Saïd Samir Aït Saïd (born 1 November 1989) is a French male artistic gymnast and a member of the national team. He has won a total of three medals, in each color, in the rings apparatus at the European Championships (2013 to 2015), and was also selec ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

and

Denis Ablyazin Denis Mikhailovich Ablyazin ( rus, Денис Михайлович Аблязин, , dʲɪˈnʲis ɐˈblʲæzʲɪn, born 3 August 1992) is a Russian artistic gymnast. Ablyazin is Olympic Champion 2020 in Tokyo and a seven-time Olympic Games med ...

2015 World Championships

In late 2015, Petrounias competed in the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

. Petrounias qualified for the Rings Final in 1st position, scoring 15.900. During the final, Eleftherios won his debut

World Title A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...

on Rings with a scored 15.800;

You Hao You Hao (; born April 26, 1992) is a Chinese artistic gymnast. He competed for the Chinese national team at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in 2013, 2014 and 2015. He became the World Champion on parallel bars at the 2015 World Cha ...

was the Silver medalist, followed by Bronze medalist Liu Yang of

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

2016 European Championships

In May 2016, Petrounias attended the 2016 European Men's Artistic Gymnastics Championships in

Bern, Switzerland german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese , neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen , website ...

. He qualified in 1st Position for the Rings Final, scoring 15.700. During the Finals, he once again secured a gold medal on the rings, scoring 15.866.

Rio Olympics

Petrounias was the

Olympic torch relay The Olympic torch relay is the ceremonial relaying of the Olympic flame from Olympia, Greece, to the site of an Olympic Games. It was first performed at the 1936 Summer Olympics, and has taken place prior to every Games since. Although in the pa ...

originating torchbearer after its ignition at Olympia on 21 April 2016, and he has a further distinction of being the first Greek gymnast selected in modern Olympics torch relay history. At the

2016 Summer Olympics The 2016 Summer Olympics ( pt, Jogos Olímpicos de Verão de 2016), officially the Games of the XXXI Olympiad ( pt, Jogos da XXXI Olimpíada) and also known as Rio 2016, was an international multi-sport event held from 5 to 21 August 20 ...

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a b ...

, Petrounias qualified for the rings final in second place with a score of 15.833. On 15 August 2016 he won the gold medal in this event with a score of 16.000, 0.234 points higher than the silver medal winner,

Arthur Zanetti Arthur Nabarrete Zanetti (born April 16, 1990) is a Brazilian artistic gymnast. He won the gold medal in the rings exercise at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, becoming the first Brazilian and Latin American gymnast to win an Olympic medal in ...

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

. His medalling in the rings closed a hiatus for Greece after

Dimosthenis Tampakos Dimosthenis Tampakos ( el, Δημοσθένης Ταμπάκος, born 12 November 1976 in Thessaloniki) is a Greek gymnast and Olympic gold medalist. He won gold in the men's rings at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens with a score of 9.862. He ...

won a Gold medal for Greece in home territory at the

2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...

2017 European Championships

In April 2017, Petrounias competed at the 2017 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the Polyvalent Hall in

Cluj-Napoca ; hu, kincses város) , official_name=Cluj-Napoca , native_name= , image_skyline= , subdivision_type1 = Counties of Romania, County , subdivision_name1 = Cluj County , subdivision_type2 = Subdivisions of Romania, Status , subdivision_name2 ...

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

. During the Competition, Petrounias secured his third European Championship Rings Title, scoring 15.433 during the final - above Silver Medalist

Courtney Tulloch Courtney James Matthew Winston Tulloch (born 6 October 1995) is an English international artistic gymnast, representing Great Britain and England. A specialist in rings and vault, he is the double Commonwealth Games champion on rings in 2018 an ...

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

, who scored 15.066, and Bronze Medalist

Ihor Radivilov Ihor (Igor) Vitaliyovych Radivilov ( uk, Ігор Віталійович Радівілов; born 19 October 1992) is a Ukrainian gymnast and three-time Olympian, having competed at the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Olympic Games. Although he competes on ...

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

, who scored 15.033.

2017 Gymnastics World Championships

In late 2017, Petrounias competed at the 2017 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Montreal. During the Championships, Petrounias successfully defended his World Title on Rings, scoring 15.433 during the final - 0.100 points above Denis Abliazin of

, who took the silver medal, and 0.167 points above Liu Yang of

, who took the bronze.

2018 European Championships

Petrounias tied the European record of 4 gold medals in European championships, held by the (now retired) athlete

Jury Chechi Jury Dimitri Chechi (; born 11 October 1969) is a retired Italian gymnast. Biography Chechi was named after cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. He won the Olympics title in the rings at Atlanta 1996 and was third at Athens 2004. Chechi's bronze was the re ...

from Italy. Eleftherios won the gold medal in the European Championships in

, on 12 August 2018, despite his

shoulder The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the humerus (upper arm bone) as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder mak ...

injury.

2018 Gymnastics World Championships

At the 2018 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in

Doha Doha ( ar, الدوحة, ad-Dawḥa or ''ad-Dōḥa'') is the capital city and main financial hub of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf coast in the east of the country, north of Al Wakrah and south of Al Khor, it is home to most of the coun ...

, Petrounias successfully defended his title and earned his third world championship gold on Rings with a score of 15.366 in event finals. 2012 Olympic champion on Rings

earned the silver and

Marco Lodadio Marco Lodadio (born 24 March 1992) is an Italian artistic gymnast. He is a two-time silver medalist in the rings at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships and the gold medalist in this event at the 2019 European Games held in Minsk, Belarus. ...

earned the bronze.

Personal life

Petrounias has been married to fellow Greek gymnast

Vasiliki Millousi Vasiliki Millousi ( el, Βασιλική Μιλλούση; born 4 May 1984 in Athens) is a Greek artistic gymnast. She is a ten-time World Cup Series medalist on beam and has represented Greece at the 2000, 2012, and 2016 Olympic Games. She occas ...

since July 2019. They have two daughters, Sofia and Eleni.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Petrounias, Eleftherios 1990 births Living people Greek male artistic gymnasts Gymnasts at the 2015 European Games European Games medalists in gymnastics European Games gold medalists for Greece World champion gymnasts European champions in gymnastics Medalists at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships Gymnasts at the 2016 Summer Olympics Olympic gymnasts of Greece Olympic medalists in gymnastics Olympic gold medalists for Greece Olympic bronze medalists for Greece Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics Mediterranean Games gold medalists for Greece Competitors at the 2013 Mediterranean Games Mediterranean Games medalists in gymnastics Gymnasts at the 2020 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics Gymnasts from Athens