Lefteris Petrounias makes history after crowned 7 time European Champion

The silver medal went to Azeri Nikita Simonov with 14.900 points, edging into a tie with last year’s winner, Egyptian-born Turk Adem Asil, who also got 14.900 points but finished 3rd because he had a lower individual execution score.

The 33-year-old “lord of the rings,” who was also the top scorer in Wednesday’s (24/04) qualifier with 14.966 points, is now the most successful specialist of all time at the European Championships, leaving behind Hungarian Christian Berky, who had won six side horse titles between 2005 and 2012.

Before this year’s seventh European title for Petrounias, they were preceded by the bronze medal in his debut at the event in 2011 in Berlin, then six consecutive victories in 2015 in Montpellier, in 2016 in Bern, in 2017 in Cluj, in 2018 in Glasgow, in 2021 in Basel, and in 2022 in Munich, as well as another bronze last year in Antalya.

At the same time, he reached a total of twelve gold medals in major events, including his triumphs in three World Championships (2015, 2017, 2018), the 2015 European Games, and of course the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The Final standings

Lefteris Petrounias (Greece) 15.000 Nikita Simonov (Azerbaijan) 14.900 Adem Asil (Turkey) 14.900 Vincents Heck (Austria) 14.800 Artur Avetisyan (Armenia) 14.800 Courtney Talloch (Great Britain) 14.700 Salvatore Maresca (Italy) 14.566 Ibrahim Tsolak (Turkey) 14.500

Petrounias’ medals

2011 Berlin Bronze 2015 Montpellier Gold 2016 Bern Gold 2017 Cluj-Napoca Gold 2018 Glasgow Gold 2021 Basel Gold 2022 Munich Gold 2023 Antalya Bronze 2024 Rimini Gold