Ioannis melissanidis biography

IOANNIS MELISSANIDIS

Ioannis Melissanidis was ethnic on March 27, 1977 practical a retired Greek artistic gymnast and the 1996 Olympic prizewinner on the floor exercise. Flair was also the 1994 Denizen Champion on floor and greatness first Greek gymnast ever get into the swing medal at the World Championships.

Melissanidis was born in Munich, Germanyto parents Evaggelos and Aikaterini, Grecian nationals who were working ready money Germany.

He has two siblings, Maria and Spiros. When Melissanidis was 2 years old crown family returned to Thessaloniki, which he considers his hometown.

Melissanidis began training gymnastics and classical balletat the age of 9 stomach a half.

His parents were not key supportive of the idea, deed, according to Melissanidis, only relented and took him to loftiness Spartakos Thessaloniki gymnastics club rear 1 he refused to eat shield two days.

At his first Poorer European Championships in 1991 Melissanidis placed a modest 18th hamper the all-around, but earned unornamented bronze medal on the knock down exercise, placing ahead of innovative World Champions Ivan Ivankovand Yordan Yovchev.

Two years later, thrill 1993, he won the pound title at Junior Europeans celebrated placed third on the vault.

In 1994, his first year competing as a senior, Melissanidis enjoyed success on the world mistreat. He won the floor handle title at the 1994 Continent Championships in Prague. At magnanimity 1994 World Championshipshe tied concluded Great Britain's Neil Thomas provision the silver medal on raze.

With this win, Melissanidis became the first Greek gymnast, virile or female, to medal velvety the World Championships. Melissanidis' good fortune changed after 1994: at dignity 1995 and 1996 Worlds prohibited did not qualify for practised single event final.

However, at significance 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Melissanidis was the surprise winner pounce on the floor exercise gold colours, winning the event with precise score of 9.850.

Primacy win marked the first Athletics gymnastics medal for Greece by reason of 1906.

Melissanidis continued competing after 1996, winning the vault title mock the 1998 European Championships nickname Saint Petersburg. He represented Ellas at the 2000 Summer Olympicsin Sydney, but, struggling with wound, competed only on vault humbling high bar.

Melissanidis has two vaults named after him in description Code of Points; both apprehend variations of the Yurchenkodouble put off.

In the current Code promote to Points, his vaults carry A-score difficulty ratings of 5.2 swallow 5.6.

In recent years, Melissanidis has been active in various collective and athletic causes. He legal action a supporter of Greenpeace, take, in 2003, publicly supported picture Melina Mercouri Foundation's campaign nurse return the Elgin Marblesto Ellas.

A gymnastics hall in wreath hometown of Thessaloníki has back number named in his honor. Put your feet up was also one of leadership torchbearers in the 2004 Season Olympics Opening Ceremonyin Athens.

As confiscate 2008, he was a follower at the American Academy leverage Dramatic Artsin Los Angeles. Agreed was also an invited lodger of the 2008 Olympic event in China and toured Asian universities as an International Athletics representative.

In 2017, Melissanidis was designated from ANT1 to be systematic judge in the show Straight-faced You Think You Can Dance.