Lefteris Petrounias wrote a new chapter in his legendary career with his participation in the Paris Olympics.
With the bronze medal won in the rings final, he not only became the first Greek gymnast with three Olympic medals, but also rose to first place of all time on a world scale, after the gold in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and the bronze in Tokyo, 2021.
In his statements to public television after the game, Petrounias appeared not only happy and at the same time emotional, but motivated and announced, on the spur of the moment, his participation in the Los Angeles Olympic Games (2028), with an “unbeatable program”.
“I came to France for exactly this. I worked hard in these three years. I had three European surgeries, one global and one. I am 33 years old and I have obligations. We came here looking for a medal. You always aim for first place in the final, but first the medal. It had never been done before in hoops and it was a goal.”commented.
As for your fight, “I found some mistakes. There could have been a tie for first place and because there was a greater degree of difficulty I would have been first. He didn’t come, it doesn’t matter, they are worthy opponents and they make me a better athlete too. I dedicate it to my family, my coach, my physiotherapist, all of Greece. I’m happy, excited”.
As for whether he liked it? “Very much. I’m so happy that I finished with a medal. I feel sad for my friend, the Frenchman. I could be him. We are happy. I can’t wait to get back to my children.”.
But he saved the good for last: “I definitely need a good break to spend time with my family, but nothing stops here. The Armenian you saw is 37 and he is very good. I am 33. The gymnastics code is changing in my favor. There are two defined practices and I think that by doing a good strategy we will build a program that will be unbeatable.”.
