Honorary Awards

As part of the 34th International Congress on Physical Education and Sport Science, Pyrros Dimas, will be honored as a true icon of Greek athletics and a titan of world weightlifting. By securing four Olympic medals in as many consecutive Games, he made history and solidified his legacy as one of the greatest weightlifters of all time.

Olympic Distinctions:

1992 – Gold Medal (82.5 kg) – 1996 – Gold Medal (83 kg) – 2000 – Gold Medal (85 kg) – 2004 – Bronze Medal (85 kg)

In 2004, at the Athens Games, he bid an iconic farewell to active competition. In a deeply moving gesture, he left his shoes on the platform amidst a thunderous standing ovation, marking the end of an extraordinary era of contribution. A three-time World Champion (1993, 1995, 1998) and holder of 11 world records, he consistently demonstrated absolute global dominance.

Pyrros Dimas did more than just collect medals; he captured the hearts of the Greek people. His legendary exclamation, “For Greece!” (“Gia tin Ellada!”), became a national motto, and his presence was the driving force behind the “golden age” of Greek weightlifting.

A legendary athlete. A national symbol.

As part of the 34th International Congress on Physical Education and Sport Science, Michalis Mouroutsos,  will be honored for his outstanding achievements and his enduring contribution to the history of Greek sports.

Michalis Mouroutsos won the gold medal in Taekwondo at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

He is Greece’s first-ever gold Olympic medalist in this sport and, chronologically, the first gold medalist in the history of Taekwondo, as his weight category was the very first to be contested in Sydney—the sport’s inaugural appearance in the Olympic Games.

He has been crowned European Champion twice (1997, 2000) and secured 9th place at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Today, he holds the position of General Secretary of the Hellenic Taekwondo Federation and serves as Vice President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee.

International Recognition:
In 2024, World Taekwondo named him the top athlete across all categories for the Sydney Olympics.

As part of the 34th International Congress on Physical Education and Sport Science, Maria Papamarkou, will be honored as the representative of the Lyceum of Greek Women, in recognition of the institution’s invaluable and enduring contribution to Greek culture and the preservation of our cultural heritage.

Maria Papamarkou is the current President of the Lyceum of Greek Women (Athens Central Lyceum).

Under her leadership, the Lyceum of Greek Women continues its mission of preserving and promoting Hellenic cultural heritage, traditional dances, and costumes, while also organizing educational programs and social initiatives.