In the 96 kg weightlifting competition at the Tokyo Olympics, Greek weightlifting champion Theodoros Yakovidis cried and announced that he would retire due to inability to maintain training after a failed attempt to lift 191 kg. He only gets 200 euros a month,
The Olympics are the second Olympics for 30-year-old Theodoros Akovidis. Yakovidis competed in the 96 kg class and after failing to try to lift the 191 kg, he thanked the crowd, crossed the cross and kissed the arena. After that, Yakovidis said he would retire. His emotions in an interview with The Greek Public Television (ERT) reverberated violently in Greece.
Yakovidis explained that the decision to retire was made because of financial difficulties that prevented him from training. Jacovidis gets 200 euros a month, often without even paying to refuel the car, and has to walk to the venue. "It's a great pity if anyone thinks I'm just running away from difficulties. I was actually so tired that I couldn't stand it anymore. My physical therapist knew about my poverty and wouldn't charge me money, but every time I looked for him I was upset. ”
Yakovidis said: "I don't cry because I'm not performing well. I cried because it was all over. Unfortunately, I can't give 100 percent, I can't have a cool head and training. I can't make a due contribution to this flag, this flag with the colors of the clothes I wear. ”
The Club of Friends of Panathinaikos, for which Yakovidis plays, opened a bank account to raise funds to support Yakovidis to continue his sports career. In an interview with Open TV Channel, Yakovidis thanked supporters for their support and said he would continue his sporting career if conditions permitted. "But I think it would be immoral for someone to sponsor my sporting career and my teammates around me in the stadium are still suffering. I hope this is a start and the country can start helping athletes in all sports. I have spoken to senior management, and we agree that this issue should be discussed in more detail. I hope this is the beginning of a change for all, not just for me. ”