Greek world champion Lefteris Petrounias won another gold medal on Saturday at the Men’s Still Rings Turnier der Meister World Cup competition taking place in Cottbus, Germany.
Petrounias’ gold win at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup has secured him a place in the pre-Olympic world championship in Antwerp next September, where he will have his first opportunity to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Greek athlete, who is dubbed Lord of the Rings for his impressive line up of international titles, performed multiple iron crosses at Turnier der Maister’s Lausitz Arena and scored a total of 14.966 points, leaving the silver and bronze winners behind with 14.766 and 14.533 respectively.
How to make an impression on Still Rings: Show multiple fabulous iron crosses à la Olympic champion Eleftherios Petrounias 🇬🇷. 14.966 moves him into first place at the #FIGWorldCup in Cottbus 🇩🇪! #Gymnastics 💪 pic.twitter.com/HeqAJqOVMQ
— FIG (@gymnastics) February 25, 2023
From hyperactive child to world champion
Petrounias is the 2016 Olympic champion, 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, three-time World champion (2015, 2017, 2018) and a six-time (2011, 2015–18, 2021, 2022) European medalist on the still rings (six gold and one bronze).
He is considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time and was named Best Greek Male Athlete for four consecutive years, from 2015 to 2018.
The Athens-born athlete reportedly grew up as a hyperactive child, which made his mother bring him to the Panionios Gymnastics Club at the age of five so that he could release his energy.
At the age of 20, Petrounias won his debut major international medal at the 2011 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Berlin.
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