Valerios Leonidis
Valerios Leonidis is a Greek former Olympic medalist weightlifter and current weightlifting trainer. He won Olympic silver medal at 1996 Atlanta Olympic games in 64 kg division, as well as two silver and one bronze World Championship medals. He has competed in different weight classes from 60 kg to 69 kg. His rivalry with world-record holder Naim Süleymanoğlu in the men's 64 kg was a very popular part of the Olympic Games in Atlanta, in which he won the silver medal.
Leonidis was born in Yessentuki, Russia, to a Pontic Greek family. He was a member of the national weightlifting team of the Soviet Union from 1982 to 1990 and he moved to Greece in 1991. He was named the 1994 Greek Male Athlete of the Year.