Valerios Leonidis (Greek: Βαλέριος Λεωνίδης; born 14 February 1966) is a Greek former Olympic medalist weightlifter and current weightlifting trainer. He has won Olympic silver medal at 1996 Atlanta Olympic games in 64 kg division. Also two silver and one bronze World Championship medals.[1] He has competed in different weight classes from 60 kg to 69 kg. His rivalry with world-record holder Naim Süleymanoğlu in the men's 64 kg was a very popular part of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, in which he won the silver medal.[2]
Leonidis was born in Yessentuki, Russia, to a Pontic Greek family. He was a member of the national weightlifting team of the Soviet Union from 1982 to 1990 and he moved to Greece in 1991. He was named the 1994 Greek Male Athlete of the Year.
References
- ^ "Valerios Leonidis, Top Olympic Lifters of the 20th Century @ Lift Up". chidlovski.net. 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Valerios Leonidis". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016.
External links
- Valerios Leonidis at the International Weightlifting Federation
- Valerios Leonidis at the International Weightlifting Results Project
- Valerios Leonidis at Olympedia
- Valerios Leonidis at Olympics.com
- Valerios Leonidis at the Hellenic Olympic Committee
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