Eleftherios Petrounias
| Eleftherios Petrounias Λευτέρης Πετρούνιας | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| — Gymnast — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Petroúnias at the 2016 Olympics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country represented |
 Greece | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | November 30, 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 62 kg (137 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Men's artistic gymnastics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level | Senior International | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Eleftherios Petrounias (Λευτέρης Πετρούνιας; Athens, born 30 November 1990) is a Greek artistic gymnast.[2] He is the 2016 Olympic champion, the 2015 World champion, and a three-time (2011/2015-16) European medalist on the still rings (two gold and one bronze).
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 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. Besides gymnastics, he practices parkour. He takes part in anti-bullying campaigns, as he was bullied himself when he was child due to his small size.[1]
Career
Competing on the still rings, Petrounias was awarded gold at the 2015 European Championships in Montpellier and at the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow. He also won gold at the 2016 European Championships in Bern, Switzerland.
Rio Olympics
Petrounias was the first torch bearer for the Olympic torch relay after the flame was ignited at Olympia on 21 April 2016.[3]
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, he qualified for the rings final in second place with a score of 15.833. On August 15, 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 of Brazil. His gold medal was Greece's first medal in the rings since Dimosthenis Tampakos won gold at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elefthérios Petroúnias. |
- 1 2 PETROUNIAS Eleftherios. fig-gymnastics.com
- ↑ Baku 2015 1St European Games - Athletes - PETROUNIAS Eleftherios. Baku2015.com. Retrieved on 2016-08-16.
- ↑ "Greek gymnast chosen as first torchbearer". IOC. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.