Olympics gold medalist, the “lord of the Rings” Lefteris Pretounias shocked the #MeToo movement in Greece on Thursday when he expressed doubt over denounced incidents of sexual abuse in the field of sports. He said that he was not sure “if there were incidents of sexual abuse in the field of sports,” and triggered an outrage on social media. Petrounias’ efforts to correct his original statement did not calm down the Greek #MeToo community.
On the sidelines of an event and when he was asked about the #MeToo movement in sports, Petrounias said: “Championship is a very tough industry. Beyond that, if there were, if, if there were because I’m not sure. I have not seen anything. Isolated incidents, I am very sorry.”
He added that he has not seen any athlete who has achieved his goals “to have such a complaint. what ever that means,” as he said characteristically, according to many media including several sports websites.
Petrounias’ statements triggered an outrage especially on Twitter with his name and the relevant hashtag #Πετρουνιας to have topped the trending list in Greece.
Women and men slammed him over these statements and many reminded him that he has two daughters.
Ο Πετρούνιας με μία δήλωση,
έπεσε από όλους τους κρίκους στους οποίους είχε ισορροπήσει υποδειγματικά μέχρι τώρα…#Πετρουνιας— Μαίρη Σ. (@marylu_231) October 21, 2021
“Petrounias with one statement he fell from all the rings he had balanced exemplary, so far …”
Αμφισβητεί τις καταγγελίες περί κακοποίησεων στο χώρο του αθλητισμού ο #πετρουνιας και πλαγίως κατηγορεί όσους προβαίνουν σ' αυτές, ότι το κάνουν για να τραβήξουν πάνω τους τα φώτα της δημοσιότητας. Μεγάλος αθλητής δεν σημαίνει απαραίτητα και σπουδαίος άνθρωπος.
— Christos Roukos (@christosroukos) October 21, 2021
“#Petrounias disputes the allegations of abuse in the field of sports and indirectly accuses those who denounce them them, that they do it in order to attract the spotlight. A great athlete does not necessarily mean a great human being.”
Τραγική δήλωση, απ όπου και να το πιάσεις. Απ’ την αμφισβήτηση ως προς τα θύματα μέχρι τις κατηγορίες για βιασμούς που έγιναν παραπονακια. Απογοήτευση. #Πετρουνιας #MeToo pic.twitter.com/oHqDbgtqx1
— BROM 🐇 – (@brom1323) October 21, 2021
“Tragic statement in all aspects. From disputing the victims up to describe the rape allegations as small complaints. Disappointment.”
Ο #πετρουνιας δεν πιστεύει ότι υπάρχουν περιστατικά κακοποίησης γιατί δεν τα έχει δει με τα μάτια του, αλλά κάνει τον σταυρό του και δηλώνει χριστιανός. Να υποθέσουμε έχει δει τον Χριστό?
Υ.Γ Το πιο σιχαμένο ίσως ότι υπονοεί πως οι καταγγελοντες είναι "αποτυχημένοι" αθλητές
— Morfo 🦊 🇵🇸 (@Moehrchen18) October 21, 2021
“#Petrounias does not believe that there are abuse incidents because he has not seen them with his own eyes, but he makes the sign of the cross and declares himself a Christian. Should we assume that he has seen Jesus Christs?
PS The most disgusting thing is that he implies that those who made the denouncements are “failed” athletes.”
A few hours later, Petrounias made a clarifying statement saying his statements went to a wrong direction and that he condemns such phenomena.
Η δήλωση μου πήρε μια διαφορετική κατεύθυνση από αυτό που στην πραγματικότητα πρεσβευω. Πιστεύω ακράδαντα ότι κάθε ενας και κάθε μια που δημοσιοποιεί την προσωπική του ιστορία είναι σίγουρα γενναίος και αξιέπαινος.
— Petrounias Eleftherios (@Petrounias_E) October 21, 2021
“My statement has taken a different direction from what I am actually advocating. I firmly believe that everyone who publishes their personal story is certainly brave and commendable. My support for anyone who has suffered any form of violence is absolutely clear.”
As the public anger did not calmed down, the athlete appeared at the prime time news of ANT1 TV and apologized.
I apologize from all Greeks, they are right to accuse me, Petrounias said, among others.
“I feel obliged to apologize to all Greeks for the wrong wording of my thoughts “he said characteristically and explained:” I was asked about the #MeToo movement and I answered exclusively for some complaints in the field of instruments for psychological violence. These are incidents that I do not know about. We come from a very tough sport. If something has happened, they have my full support,” he said.
He stressed that the reactions are justified and reiterated “I condemn all forms of violence everywhere. I have said many times that the Greeks are my strength. [..] I have never hidden behind statements, I am not ashamed and I am not afraid to apologize. I did make a mistake. I’m not as good as a speaker as I am in the rings.” Petrounias told ANT1.
Apologizing for saying something is an error. Everyone is free to comment and declare whatever he or she wants, on any given topic. If some people wants to shut you up, they are the problem. No one has the legitimacy to pretend they hold any higher moral ground to judge what is allowed to be said. This is given to the Divinity only. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” -Galatians 5:1.