Greek gymnast chosen as first torchbearer

Greek artistic gymnast, Lefteris Petrounias has been handed the honour of being the first torchbearer of the Rio 2016 Olympic Torch Relay.

Petrounias, a reigning world champion, will take possession of the Olympic flame from the High Priestess Katerina Lehou at the end of the lighting ceremony for the Rio Games, which take place on 21 April in Ancient Olympia.

The Greek athlete will pass the flame to former Brazilian volleyball player Giovane Gávio, a two-time Olympic gold medallist (Barcelona 1992 and Athens 2004). The 25-year old Petrounias is the current world champion on the still rings.

Last year he also took gold at the European Championships, and was named best athlete of 2015 by the Pan-Hellenic Sports Journalists Association. He is set to make his Olympic debut in Rio later this year.