Lefteris Petrounias, nicknamed, the Lord of the Rings, won the bronze medal in the Olympic Games in Paris on Sunday.
The Greek gymnastics champion made history as he became the first athlete in the history of the event to win three medals in consecutive Olympic Games.
China won its first artistic gymnastics gold medal of the Paris Olympics, as Liu Yang led a one-two finish for his nation in the still rings final. His 15.300 narrowly held off teammate Zou Jingyuan, who posted a 15.233. Petrounias captured the bronze with a 15.100.
Petrounias is now the 2016 Olympic champion, 2020, and 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, three-time World champion (2015, 2017, 2018), and a nine-time (2011, 2015–18, 2021–24) European medalist on the still rings (seven gold and two bronze).
He was named the Greek Male Athlete of the Year for the years 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Lefteris Petrounias at the Olympic Games and his illustrious career
2011 European Championships
Petrounias’ debut major international medal came when he competed at the 2011 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Berlin 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.
2015 European Championships
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 of France and Denis Ablyazin of Russia.
2015 World Championships
In late 2015, Petrounias competed in the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow. He qualified for the Rings Final in first position, scoring 15.900.
During the final, Eleftherios won his debut World Title on Rings with a score 15.800. You Hao was the Silver medalist, followed by Bronze medalist Liu Yang of China.
2016 European Championships
In May 2016, Petrounias attended the 2016 European Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Bern, Switzerland. He qualified in first position for the rings final, scoring 15.700.
During the finals, he once again secured a gold medal on the rings, scoring 15.866.
2016 Rio Olympics
Petrounias won the gold medal in men’s rings on August 15, 2016 at the Rio Olympic Games with a score of 16.000 points. He was closely followed by Brazilian Arthur Zanetti with a score of 15.766 in second place and Russian Denis Ablyazin in third place with a score of 15.600 points.
Petrounias was the Olympic torch relay originating torchbearer after its ignition at Olympia on April 21, 2016, and he has the further distinction of being the first Greek gymnast selected in modern Olympic torch relay history.
2021 Tokyo Olympics
He won a bronze medal for Greece after a great performance in the men’s rings finals in the Tokyo Olympics. Petrounias received 15.200 points and made history, winning another Olympic medal for the country five years after his triumph in Rio de Janeiro, where he finished first.
His dreams for another Olympic gold were not fulfilled this time, as the Chinese duo of Liu Yang and You Hao won the gold and silver medals, respectively.
2024 European Championships
The celebrated Greek gymnastics athlete once again proved his dominance in the still rings event by winning a gold medal in the 2024 European Championships in Artistic Gymnastics that was held in Rimini, Italy.
This was the 7th European Championship gold medal for Petrounias. The 33-year-old Greek Olympic champion once again demonstrated his exceptional strength, precision, and unmatched artistry in a breathtaking performance.
