Leonidas Kokkas

From Phantis
Revision as of 19:35, February 4, 2012 by Irlandos (talk | contribs)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Olympic-rings.png
Men's Weightlifting
Silver 1996 91kg

Leonidas Kokkas is a former Greek weightlifter. His highest distinction was winning the silver metal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Born in November, 1973 in Kakavia, he is 1,78m tall and competed in the 94kg category.

In 1991, Kokkas, along with Pyrros Dimas, Giorgos Tzelilis, Leonidas Sabanis and Viktor Mitrou, left Albania for Greece. There, he joined Spartakos club of Ioannina.

In 1996, he won Olympic silver, in Atlanta, in the 91 kg category. Kokkas lifted 215 kg in the jerk and 175 in the snatch for a second-place 390 kg total.

Thanking God, for helping him reach the winners' podium, Kokkas celebrated with Greece. He later celebrated with his close friend Pyrros Dimas, with whom he shared a room for the past several months.

"I couldn't believe it", said Kokkas. "I dedicate everything to God, because He helped me make it".

He also won silver in the 1997 Mediterranean Games, in the 91-kg category, by lifting 160 kg in the snatch.

A serious injury forced him out of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Leonidas Kokkas is now an Artillery Lieutenant in the Greek Army.