Anna Ntountounaki becomes first Greek female swimmer to win gold at European Championships

25-year-old Anna Ntountounaki has made Greeks all around the world proud!

She finished first in the women’s 100 butterfly final at the 2021 LEN European Aquatics Championships.

And she has became Greece’s first-ever woman to win a gold medal in swimming at a European Championships.

"I did not believe it... I was just hoping to get a medal, not even in my wildest dreams did I think I would get the gold. I have really made a tremendous effort since last year and I do not know what to say, it is unbelievable. All the effort and sacrifice was worth it," she exclaimed.

Ntountounaki’s win at Budapest came in the form of a tie with France’s Marie Wattel as they both hit a 57.37. Louise Hansson from Sweden rounded out the podium with a 57.56.

She is the sole Greek woman to have qualified for Tokyo for swimming and is slated to race the 100 butterfly this summer.

The young female swimmer represented Greece at the 2016 Olympics, swimming to 17th place in the 100 butterfly with a 58.27 which, at the time, was also a national record.

*More on GCT: Evangelia Platanioti wins two medals at European Aquatics Championships