The president of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou praised the performance of Greek athletes at the recent European Championships saying that their success “fills us with price and moves us emotionally”.
The president drew attention to the seven gold medals, seven silver and three bronze medals won by 11 athletes and the water polo and artistic swimming teams.
Gold medalist Eleftherios Petrounias (C) of Greece, silver medalist Adem Asil (L) of Turkey and bronze medalist Courtney Tulloch of Great Britain during the medal ceremony for the men's final on the Rings during the Artistic Gymnastics events at the European Championships Munich 2022. Photo: AAP via EPA/RONALD WITTEK
From left, second placed Katarzyna Zdzieblo from Poland, first placed Antigone Intrismpioti from Greece and third placed Saskia Feiger from Germany pose with their medals after the women's 20km walking race at the European Athletics Championships in Munich, Germany, Saturday Aug. 20, 2022. (Soeren Stache/dpa via AP)
European Swimming Championships in Rome 2022 in the photo: the podium of the 100 meters backstroke men: from the left Greek Apostolos Christou with a silver medal, the Italian Thomas Ceccon gold medal and the French Yohann Ndoye Brouard. Photo: AAP/Sipa USA
Miltiadis Tentoglou, of Greece, poses after winning the gold medal in the Men's long jump final during the athletics competition in the Olympic Stadium at the European Championships in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. Photo: AAP via AP/Matthias Schrader
Apostolos Christou celebrating Gold Medal in 50m Backstroke Men Final Swimming in Rome. Photo: AAp via Insidefoto/Sipa USA/Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia
Greece's Artistic swimming Team free combination in the photo: team Greece, bronze medal. Photo: AAp via Sipa USA/Gian Mattia D'Alberto – LaPresse
Elina Tzengko, of Greece, celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Women's javelin throw final during the athletics competition in the Olympic Stadium at the European Championships in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022. Photo: AAP via AP/Matthias Schrader
The Athenian-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) reported that President Sakellaropoulou mentioned by name medal winners Evangelia Anastasiadiou, Apostolos Christou, Stefanos Douskos, Antigoni Drisbioti, Zoe Fitsiou, Kristian Gkolomeev, Antonis Papakonstantinou, Lefteris Petrounias, Katerina Stefanidi, Miltos Tentoglou, and Elina Tzengo.
She said they were joined by Greek athletes who competed in the sea, swimming venue and stadiums who had also “fought with faith and power without making it to the podium”.
She said the athletes served “as models for the younger generation, this being their greatest contribution to their homeland”.
