Congratulations Apostolos Christou!
The 24-year-old finished third in the 100 meters backstroke final at the 2021 LEN European Aquatics Championships, winning bronze.
With a time of 52.97, the young Greek swimmer tied with French Yohann Ndoye Brouard and came behind Romanian Robert-Andrei Glinda (in first place (52.88)) and Spanish Hugo Gonzalez (in second place (52.90)).
"I am very happy to have a medal on my chest for the third consecutive European Championship. This testifies to the very hard and systematic work we have been doing in recent years with my coach and colleagues. The race was extremely fast and that adds more value to today's medal," he said after the swim.
Earlier in the week, Christou became the first Greek man under 53 seconds in the first semi-final of the men’s 100 backstroke, touching in a time of 52.77 to lower the 2009 National Record of 53.03 previously held by Aristeidis Grigoriadis.
The young swimmer showed immense opening speed in the race, flipping in a blistering 25.17.
"I am very happy for Apostolos... What makes me happy is the dedication and the quality that the athlete shows, proof of the hard and systematic work that we do in recent years. Apostolos is on the podium of the European Games in three consecutive championships," his coach Panagiotis Velentza said.
"We are continuing our efforts in Budapest and we will claim the best in the 200 backstroke, where we want to secure the limit for the Tokyo Olympics in this particular event," he added.
Anna Ntountounaki becomes first Greek female swimmer to win gold at European Championships
Christou adds another medal for Greece in swimming after Anna Ntountounaki 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.
