History the WeightLifting
Maria Christoforidou (60kg) won three gold medals in Sarajevo (World Championships) with 197,5kg (87,5+110) and three more in Tenerife (European Championships) with 185kg (82,5+102,5).
At the European Championships, Spanou (75kg) won bronze medal with 187,5kg after taking a silver medal in snatch with 85kg and a bronze in clean & jerk with 102,5kg.
At the World Championships in Budapest, Pavlos Saltsidis (110kg) won the bronze medal with 382,5kg after taking 2nd place in snatch with 170kg and 3rd in clean & jerk with 212,5kg.
Greek champions collected several medals at the European Union Championships. Saltsidis (110kg) won the gold medal with 367,5kgr after taking the first place in clean & jerk with 202,5kg and the third place in snatch with 165kg. Kiartsidis (60kg), prior to a gold medal in snatch with 115kg and a bronze in clean & jerk with 122,5kg, won silver medal with 247,5kg. Polychronakis (52kg) won two silver medals (110kg clean & jerk, 200kg total) and one bronze (90kg snatch). Konstantinidis (67,5kg) won three silver medals with a total of 295kg (135+160). Stavridis (90kg) won two silver medals (150kg snatch, 327,5kg total) and one bronze (177,5kg clean & jerk). Grammatikopoulos (67,5kg) won three bronze medals with a total of 282,5kg (127,5+155).
At the World Cup (Taiwan), Pavlos Saltsidis took 9th place with 365kg.
The dominance of Maria Christoforidou was once again verified at the European Union Championships, where she won three gold medals with 187,5kg (82,5+105). Bontozi (75kg) won the gold medal in clean & jerk with 97,5kg and the silver with a total of 170kg. Kalogera (56kgr) won two silver medals (62kg snatch, 135kgr total), Spanou (75kg) one silver medal (75kg snatch) and one bronze (167,5kg total), Kokkinou (82,5kg) two bronze medals (62,5kg snatch, 135kg total), Aktypi (+82,5kg) two bronze medals (80kg clean & jerk, 140kg total), Lerouni (48kg) one bronze in snatch with 52,5kg and Protopsalti (82,5kg) one bronze medal in clean & jerk with 75kg.
Maria Christoforidou was voted “woman of the year” for 1991. The champion of Panellinios won six gold medals; three with 197,5kg (87,5+110) at the European Championships and another three with 192,5kg (85+107,5) at the European Union Championships.
At women’s European Championships, Yota Antonopoulou (75kg) won three silver medals with 180kg (75+105) and Anna Stroubou (52kg) three bronze medals with 147,5kg (62,5+85). At men’s European Championships, Grammatikopoulos (75kg) took 5th place with 310kg.
Greek women made quite an impression at the European Union Championships, where Greece conquered the first place in the final standings. Apart from Christoforidou, Spanou (75kg) also won three gold medals with 192,5kg (85+107,5). Aktypi (+82,5kg) won two gold (72,5kg snatch, 157,5kg total) and one silver medal (85kg clean & jerk). Stroubou won won three silver medals with 142,5kg (65+77,5), Bontozi (75kg) two silver medals (95kg clean & jerk, 167,5kg total) and one bronze (72,5kg snatch), Kokkinou (+82,5kg) two silver medals (70kg snatch, 150kg total) and one bronze (80kg snatch) and Deliporanidou (56kg) three bronze medals with 142kg (62,5+80). At men’s European Union Championships, Saltsidis (+110kg) won two gold medals (210kg clean & jerk, 372,5kg total), Drakopoulos (100kg) won the silver medal with 340kg after taking the gold in snatch with 155kg and the bronze in clean & jerk with 185kg, Kiartsidis (60kg) won the gold medal in clean & jerk with 117,5kg, Konstantinidis (75kg) one silver in clean & jerk with 165kg and Tsintsaris (+110kg) one bronze in snatch with 162,5kg.
At the Mediterranean Games, Giannis Tsintsaris won the silver medal with 352,5kg after taking one gold medal in snatch with 162,5kg and one silver in clean & jerk with 190kg. Drakopoulos won two silver medals (155kg snatch, 342,5kg total) and one bronze (187,5kg clean & jerk); finally Kiatsidis (260kg total) and Konstantinidis (137,5kg snatch) won a bronze medal each.
The 1992 Olympics mark the beginning of a new era for Greek weightlifting. Dimas’ amazing performance “for Greece” made the nation erupt with pride. Dimas won the gold medal in the 82,5kg category after lifting a total of 370kg (167,5+202,5). Valerios Leonidis (60kg) made a good performance taking 5th place with 295kg (132,5+162,5). The Greek champion came close to winning the bronze medal but lost to Yinggiang He and Terzisky on less body weight. Pavlos Saltsidis (110kg) came up 8th with 385kg (175+210), and Grammatikopoulos (75kg) 25th with 302,5kg. Drakopoulos (100kg) was disqualified.
A few months earlier at the European Championships in Hungary, Pyrros Dimas had won three bronze medals with 367,5kg (165+202,5), and Pavlos Saltsidis one silver and one bronze in clean & jerk at the 212,5kg category.
At women’s World Championships, Maria Christoforidou (60kg) won two silver medals (90kg snatch, 195kgr total) and one bronze (105kg clean & jerk).
At the European Union Championships (Rome), Valerios Leonidis won three gold medals with 277,5kg (122,5+155). Takos (52kg) also won gold medal in snatch with 95kg. Grammatikopoulos won two silver medals (172,5kg clean & jerk, 307,5kg total), Saltsidis two bronze medals (165kg snatch, 375kg total) and Drakopoulos one bronze in snatch with 155kg. As for women’s categories, Stroubou and Christoforidou won three gold medals each. Stroubou (52kg) lifted 147,5kg (67,5+80) and Christoforidou 185kg (85+100). Deliporanidou (56kg) won two gold medals (85kg clean & jerk, 150kg total). Kalogera (56kg) won one silver medal (82,5kg clean & jerk) and one bronze (147,5kg total), Katsouridi (+82,5kg) two bronze medals (70kg snatch, 155kg total) and Aktypi (+82,5kg) one bronze medal in clean & jerk with 85kg.
1993 was a great year for weightlifting. At the World Championships (Melbourne), Pyrros Dimas (83kg) won two gold medals (175kg snatch, 377,5kg total). Tzelilis (59kg) and Leonidis won the silver medal in clean & jerk with 165kg and 175kg respectively.
At women’s World Championships, Antonopoulou (83kg) won two silver medals (125kg clean & jerk, 215kg total) and one bronze (90kg snatch); Christoforidou (59kg) won three bronze medals (90kg snatch, 107,5kg clean & jerk, 197,5kg total) and Spanou one bronze in clean & jerk with 115kg.
At the European Championships (Sofia), Valerios Leonidis took second place with 312,5kg after winning the gold medal in clean & jerk with 175kg, while Pyrros Dimas came up third with 370kg after winning one silver medal in snatch with 170kg.
At women’s European Championships, Stroubou (50kg) and Spanou (83kg) won three gold medals each. Stroubou lifted 160kg (72,5+87,5) and Spanou 202,5kg (90+112,5). Christoforidou won two gold medals (107,5kg clean & jerk, 192,5kg total) and one silver medal in snatch with 85kg. Missyrli (54kg) and Antonopoulou (76kg) won three silver medals with 165kg (75+90) and 210kg (90+1120) respectively.
At the Mediterranean Games, Greece won 14 medals: 9 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze. Dimas (91kg) and Saltsidis (+108kg) did their best winning three gold medals each. Dimas lifted a total of 375kg (175+200) and Saltsidis 400kg (180+220). Tzelilis (59kg) won one gold in snatch with 127,5kg and two silver medals (152,5kg clean & jerk, 280kg total); Konstantinidis (76kg) won one gold in snatch with 147,5kg, one silver with a total of 325kg and one bronze with 177,5kg; Romanidis (83kg) won three silver medals with 342,5kg (152,5+190) and Mitrou (76kg) two silver medals (145kg snatch, 177,5kg clean & jerk) and one bronze (322,5kg total).
Tzelilis (64kg) became European junior champion after winning three gold medals with a total of 300kg (135+165). At the same competition, Mitrou (76kg) won the bronze medal in snatch with 180kg.
Greek men and women caused quite a sensation at the European Union Championships in Athens.
Leonidis (64kg), Konstantinidis (70kg) and Dimas won three gold medals in their categories after lifting 305kg (135+170), 305kg (135+170) and 365kg (165+200) respectively. Romanidis came up second with 335kg winning the silver medal in clean & jerk with 187,5kg; Iliadis (91kg) took also second place with 342,5kg; Drakopoulos won the silver medal in snatch with 165kg and Saltsidis (+108kg) three silver medals with 308kg (165+215). Kiartsidis (64kg) took the third place with 267,5kg and Lambrianidis (70kg) won two bronze medals (160kg clean & jerk, 365kg total).
In women’s competition, gold medal winners were Stroubou (72,5kg snatch, 165kg total), Christoforidou (87,5kg snatch, 107,5kg clean & jerk, 195kg total) and Antonopoulou (105kg clean & jerk). Stroubou won the silver medal in clean & jerk with 92,5kg, while Misyrli came up second with 155kg after winning the silver medal in snatch with 70kg. Karipidou (50kg) and Misyrli took third place in clean & jerk with 75kg and 85kg respectively. Kochliaridou (70kg), Chatzioannou (83kg) and Bontozi (+83kg) won three bronze medals with 167,5kg (75+92,5), 150kg (60+90) and 167,5kg (70+97,5) respectively.
In Istanbul, where the 66th World Championships were held, no Greek athlete took first place. Valerios Leonidis (64kg) won three silver medals with 325kg (146,5+180,5). Akakios Kahiasvili came up second with 397,5kg winning a silver medal in clean & jerk with 220kg and a bronze in snatch with 177,5kg. Due to an injury Pyrros Dimas (83kg) was restricted to one bronze medal in snatch (172,5kg). As for women, Antonopoulou (76kg) won two gold medals (127,5kg clean & jerk, 200kgr total) while Stroubou (50kgr) and Papageorgiou (64kgr) won each a bronze medal in clean & jerk, with 90kg and 110kg respectively.
At the European Championships, Leonidis won two silver medals (177,5kg clean & jerk, 317,5kg total); Tzelilis and Mitrou came up third in clean & jerk with 162,5kg and 192,5kg respectively. Polanidis (54kg) won three bronze medals with 260kg (115+145). Tzelilis won one bronze after lifting a total of 287,5kg.
At women’s European Championships, Greece collected 8 silver medals with Stroubou (150kg total), Chatzioannou (97,5kg total), Papageorgiou (105kg clean & jerk), Spanou (90kg snatch, 110kg clean & jerk, 200kg total) and Antonopoulou (122,5kg clean & jerk, 212,5kg total). Stroubou (67,5kg snatch, 82,5kg clean & jerk), Misyrli (72,5kg snatch, 160kg total) and Papageorgiou (182,5kg total) won bronze medals.
At the European Union Championships, Polanidis and Leonidis won three gold medals each. Polanidis lifted a total of 247,5kg (110+137,5) and Leonidis 300kg (135+165). Tzelilis, Mitrou and G. Iliadis won three silver medals each by lifting 295kg (130+165), 325kg (145+180) and 332,5kg (147,5+185) respectively. Politidis (70kg) came up second in snatch with 135kg, while Grammatikopoulos and Odysseas Dimas (157,5kg snatch, 350kg total) won two silver medals each. Lambrianidis (76kg) and Leontidis (+108kg) won three bronze medals with 350kg, (142,5+192,5) and (160+190). Finally, O. Dimas took third place after jerking at 192,5kg.
In women’s competition, Stroubou, Misyrli and Christoforidou won three gold medals each after lifting 150kg (67,5+82,5), 155kg (67,5+87,5) and 187,5kg (87,5+100) respectively. Deliporanidou (64kg) earned three silver medals with 170kg (72,5+97,5), and Bontozi three bronze with a total of 180kg (77,5+102,5).
At the World Cup, Giota Antonopoulou (83kg) set new world clean & jerk record with 130kg. For the same competition, Konstantinidis (67,5kg) and Saltsidis (+108kg) took 8th place with 300kg (137,5+162,5) and 367,5kg (160+207,5) respectively.
Undoubtedly, Greek athletes managed to rub out past misfortunes. Only in the year 1995 they collected 54 gold, 29 silver and 30 bronze medals.
At the World Championships in Guangzhou, Dimas (83kg) won two gold medals (212,5kg clean & jerk world record, 385kg total) and one silver medal in snatch with 172,5kg. Akakios Kahiasvili (99kg) won two gold (227,5kg clean & jerk, 410kg total) and one bronze (182,5kg snatch). Leonidas Sabanis (59kg) also won two gold (137,5kg snatch, 302,5kg) and one bronze (165kg clean & jerk). Valerios Leonidis (64kg) won three silver medals with 327,5kg (146,5+180) and Viktor Mitrou (76kg) two bronze medals (197,5kg clean & jerk, 357,5kg total).
At women’s World Championships the Greek team earned only four bronze medals; three for Antonopoulou (83kg) who lifted a total of 225kg (100+125) and one for Christoforidou (64kg) with a total of 200kg.
At the European Championships, Pyrros Dimas’ dominance continued. The Greek athlete set three world records after lifting a total of 387,5kg (177,5+211). Kahiasvili followed; he won three gold medals with 407,5kg (180+228,5) breaking the clean & jerk world record. Valerios Leonidis set new clean & jerk record (183kg) too; he came up second with 322,5kg having won a bronze medal in snatch (140kg). Saltsidis (+108kg) won two bronze medals (182,5kg snatch, 412,5kg total). Tzelilis (64kg) and Kokkas (91kg) earned one bronze medal each by jerking at 170kg and 212,5kg respectively.
At women’s European Championships, Christoforidou (59kg) and Stroubou (50kg) proved unbeatable. Christoforidou won three gold medals after lifting 200kg (90+110); Stroubou won two gold medals (72,5kg snatch, 162,5kg total) and one silver (90kg clean & jerk). Misyrli (54kg) won three silver medals with 165kg (75+90) and Antonopoulou (76kg) three bronze medals with 215kg (95+120). Tatsi (70kg) took third place with 197,5kg after winning a silver medal in snatch (90kg). Chatzioannou (59kg) won two bronze medals (95kg clean & jerk, 172,5kg total).
At the European Union Championships, Greece collected 21 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze medals in men’s categories. Women followed with 13 gold, 11 silver and 3 bronze medals.
At the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, Greek athletes astounded everyone with their amazing performances; the nation had never seen so many victories since the 1896 Olympics. Once again the Greek weightlifting team took first place. Christos Iakovou led five lifters to winning olympic medals. Pyrros Dimas and Akakios Kahiasvili came up first in their categories setting new world records. Dimas (83kg) lifted a total of 392,5kg (180+213) breaking the world snatch record. Akakios Kahiasvili (99kg) lifted a record 420kg (185+235, new world record). Leonidas Sabanis (59kg), Valerios Leonidis (64kg) and Leonidas Kokkas (91kg) took the second place with 305kg (137,5+167,5), 332,5kg (145+187,5) and 390kg (175+215). Giorgos Tzelilis (64kg) lifted a total of 322,5kg (145+177,5) but lost the bronze medal to Shiao from China due to lower body weight. Viktor Mitrou (76kg) came up fourth because he was a few pounds heavier than John Chol, who had lifted the same total (357,5kg). Captain Pavlos Saltsidis (+108kg) was placed 8th with 420kg (185+235) and Christos Spyrou (70kg) 13th with 322,5kg (145+177,5). Alexis Panatidis was eliminated after failing to snatch 170kg.
At the European Union Championships, Greek men and women won a total of 25 gold medals.
At the 1997 European Championships, Leonidas Sabanis (59kg) won one gold in snatch with 132,5kg and two bronze medals (155kg clean & jerk, 287,5kg total). In women’s categories, Ioanna Chatzioannou (64kgr) won two gold medals (110kg clean & jerk, 197,5kg total) and one silver medal in snatch with 87,5kg. Maria Christoforidou (59kg) won two gold medals (105kg clean & jerk, 187,5kg total). Stamatia Bontozi (+83kg) won one silver medal with 212,5kg and one bronze by jerking at 92,5kg. Evdokia Chatziavramidou (50kg) won a bronze medal after jerking at 82,5kg.
A young talented lifter, Giorgos Dermetzis (over 108kg), made a very promising start not only at the European Juniors (3d place with 332,5kg, gold medal in snatch with 162,5kg) but also at the World Juniors Championships (3d place in snatch with 160kg).
At the Mediterranean Games, Leonidas Sabanis (59kg) won two gold medals (125kg snatch, 155kg clean & jerk), Giorgos Tzelilis (64kg) one gold (162,5kg clean & jerk), Viktor Mitrou (76kg) one gold (180kg clean & jerk) and one bronze (142,5kg snatch), Akakios Kahiasvili (99kg) one gold (212,5kg clean & jerk) and one silver (167,5kg snatch), Leonidas Kokkas (91kg) one silver (140kg snatch) and one bronze (197,5kg clean & jerk), Alexandros Politidis (70kg) one silver (140kg snatch), Christos Spyrou (76kg) one silver (145kg snatch) and Alekos Panatidis (108kg) one bronze (162,5kg snatch).
At the European Union Championships, Greek women were unbeatable. Anna Stroubou (54kg), Maria Tatsi (70kg) and Stamatia Bontozi (+83kg) won three gold medals in their categories with 170kg (77,5+92,5), 197,5kg (87,5+110) and 215kg (95+120) respectively. Chatzioannou (64kg) won two gold (107,5kg clean & jerk, 192,5kg total) and one silver medal (85kg snatch). Theano Zagliveri (76kg) and Filippia Kochliaridou (83kg) won three silver medals each after lifting 200kg (both 90+110). Heleni Kyssidou (59kg) won two silver medals (80kg snatch, 175kg total) and one bronze (95kg clean & jerk).
Greece made history at the 1998 World Championships in Lahti, Finland, winning most medals and ranking first in the final standing.
Greek lifters performed extremely well. In the snatch, Sabanis (62kg) took first place, Dimas (85kg) second, Tzelilis (69kg) and Kahiasvili (94kg) third. In the clean & jerk, Sabanis (62kg) and Kahiasvili (99kg) excelled in their categories, Leonidis (69kg) and Mitrou (77kg) came up third, while Dimas (85kg) and Kokkas (94kg) took second place.
As for the “opposite sex”, Stroubou (53kg) came up 7th, Christoforidou (58kg) 5th, Tatsi (69kg) 11th, Zagliveri (75kg) 13th and Kochliaridou (75kg) 15th.
One year later Greece hosted its third World Weightlifting Championships for men and women at Athens’ Peace and Friendship Stadium (the first was held in Salonica in 1977, the second in Glyfada in 1989). Greeks worked very hard to achieve the three goals they had set from the beginning; to win the world title, to gain the right to field a full team in Sydney, and to offer the best possible conditions for the events.
Over 12.000 spectators attended the events setting new record in weightlifting history. The Greek team made them cheer with joy as they saw all 8 Greek lifters win medals in their categories. The stadium was packed, especially on the day Pyrros Dimas and Akakios Kahiasvili competed. Foreigners could not believe their eyes when they realized that over 2.000 people outside the gates were vainly looking for tickets.
Canadian IWF official Philippe Saint-Cyr said: “I was in the doping control room where the presentation of the athletes of the 85kg category took place. When I went out to take my seat among the officials, I was amazed. Thousands of people created a fantastic atmosphere. Never had I seen such a spectacle, so many fans at a weightlifting competition. I will remember it for the rest of my life”.
Above all, Greek lifters had to deal with stress. That was the reason why Leonidas Sabanis, who came out first to compete, won only 2 silver medals in the 62kg category. Giorgos Tzelilis followed with 3 silver medals (345kg, 155kg+190kg) in the 69kg category and Valerios Leonidis, who overcame a serious injury to win 3 bronze medals (340kg, 152.5kg+187.5kg).
Viktor Mitrou (77kg) had a bad start in the snatch; he finished 6th with 165kg. He performed much better in the clean & jerk coming up second with 205kg, but lost the gold to Bandr from Qatar for less body weight.
In the 85kg category Pyrros Dimas (who had recently undergone an operation) and Christos Spyrou gave their best to make Greeks happy. Dimas won the first gold for Greece by setting new world record in the snatch with 180.5kg; finally he took second place with 387.5kg after winning the bronze medal in the clean & jerk with 207.5kg. Spyrou won the silver medal in the clean & jerk with 207.5kg and finished 4th in the total with 382.5kg.
In the 94kg category Akakios Kahiasvili won three gold medals by lifting a total of 412.5kg (188kg+225kg), and Leonidas Kokkas one silver medal in the snatch (185kg) and one bronze in the total with 402.5kg.
During the medal ceremony Kokkas invited head coach Christos Iakovou to the pedestal. Overwhelmed with emotion Iakovou watched the crowd cheer his name.
Greece easily captured no1 in the final ranking with 580 points, having collected 19 medals (4 gold, 10 silver and 5 bronze). Bulgaria followed with only 462 points and 9 medals.
In women’s categories Gianna Chatzioannou was the only Greek to win a medal (bronze) after jerking at 127.5kg.
Giannis Sgouros and Christos Iakovou began to draw a 10-month plan aiming to lead the Greek team to victory at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Greek lifters were determined to make all necessary sacrifices to defend their title, including staying away from their families for a long period of time.
In Sydney the Greek team suffered two last minute casualties when Leonidas Kokkas and Giorgos Tzelilis got injured. Leonidas Sabanis was once again the first to enter the battle. He won the silver medal with a total of 317.5kg (147.5kg+170kg). Valerios Leonidis finished 6th in the 69kg category after lifting a total of 330kg (145kg+185kg), while Viktor Mitrou (77kg) lost the gold to Zhan of China on his last attempt by virtue of lower body weight.
In the 85kg category Pyrros Dimas had to put up a gigantic effort to avoid elimination; after missing his first two lifts he was forced to make his third attempt in the snatch (175kg) just to stay in the competition. Then he lifted 215kg in the clean & jerk to take the lead as George Asanidze of Georgia (who was 640g heavier than Dimas) missed twice at the same weight. The Greek champion earned his third Olympic with a total of 390kg overcoming Mark Huster and Asanidze by virtue of lower body weight. In the same category Christos Spyrou finished 7th with 375kg.
After Dimas it was Kahiasvili’s turn to become the second Greek to join Naim Suleymanoglu of Turkey as a three-time olympic gold medallist. After taking the lead in the snatch with 185kg, he lifted 220kg in the clean & jerk and then watched his rivals fail to overtake him. Polish champion Szymon Kolecki passed up his last attempt; both athletes lifted the same weights (405kg) but it was Kahiasvili who won the gold by virtue of lower body weight.
In the women’s competition Gianna Chatzioannou became the first Greek female lifter to win an Olympic medal; she took third place in the 63kg category by lifting a total of 222.5kg (97.5kg+125kg). In the 69kg category Maria Tatsi finished 11th with 220kg.
Greece ranked no1 with 4 medals; Bulgaria and China followed with 3.
At the 2000 IWF Congress in Athens, Greek Secretary of Sports Giannis Sgouros was elected new secretary general of the International Weightlifting Federation.
The Sydney Olympics marked not only the end of a century but also the culmination of Greek weightlifting. Starting from the Antalya World Championships, where Giorgos Tzelilis and Anastasia Tsakiri excelled, Greek lifters seem determined to carry on the glorious tradition.