The world champion in artistic gymnastics, Lefteris Petrounias, was elected by the Hellenic Olympic Committee to be the first Torchbearer of the Olympic Torch Relay ahead of the “Rio 2016” Olympic Games. Petrounias will receive the Olympic Flame from the High Priestess, Katerina Lehou, during the Lighting Ceremony for the Rio Olympics, which will be held on 21st April, in Ancient Olympia.
The Greek athlete will pass the Flame to the second Torchbearer who is the former volleyball player Giovane Gávio from Brazil. Petrounias, born on November, 30, 1990 is reigning champion on the still rings. In 2015, he won gold medals at the World Championship in Glasgow, at the European Championship in Montpellier and at the 1st European Games in Baku. He was also named best athlete of the year 2015 by the Pan-Hellenic Association of Sport Press. He has qualified for the “Rio 2016” Olympic Games, while he will compete for the first time in his career, in Olympic Games.
Giovane Gávio is a Brazilian volleyball player, voted world player of the year in 1993. He is a two-time Olympic champion (Barcelona 1992 and Athens 2004), four-time World League winner (1993, 2001, 2003, 2004); two-time European Champions League winner (1993 and 1994); 2002 World Champion; and Brazilian beach volleyball champion in 1998. He was also voted the world’s best blocker in 1989, and the planet’s best striker in 2003.
