Artistic gymnast Lefteris Petrounias returned from Paris with the third Olympic medal of his career to further cement his legacy at the Games.
Meanwhile his legacy in Greece is set to be immortalised following the announcement to name the ‘House of Gymnastics’ after him.
Petrounias was greeted by the Alternate Minister for Sport, Giannis Vroutsis, honouring the gymnast for his third Olympic medal (something no gymnast in the rings has ever achieved).
“Symbolically for what you do, for the thrill you offer to the Greek people, the house of gymnastics that will be based on the iconic velodrome, which is our iconic building and will house gymnastics from December with the naming ceremony by the Prime Minister, will be named after you. Lefteris Petrounias. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Vroutsis said.
Petrounias stated he was extremely pleased with his efforts in Paris, dedicating his result to his children for whom these were the first Games wherein they understood what he does.
“I feel good, proud and triumphant. But I need some rest, it has been a three-year period with a lot of competitions and difficulties that we have overcome,” he said.
He remarked that his first thought after landing from the rings was “the Chinese were screwed, but it didn’t work out so the second thought was that I secured a medal”.
Petrounias was questioned about the possibility of going for a fourth Olympic medal at the next Games which he admitted is on his mind, though his priority is to first take a vacation.
