The President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou praised Greek athletes and their amazing winning streak that saw them crowned Europeans champions in multiple events.
Greek athletes winning medals "fill us with pride and move us emotionally," Sakellaropoulou said on Monday, following the closing of the European Championships on Sunday.
Sakellaropoulou noted that 11 athletes and 2 teams had won 7 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze medals, and mentioned individual winners by name: Evangelia Anastasiadiou, Apostolos Christou, Stefanos Douskos, Antigoni Drisbioti, Zoe Fitsiou, Christian Golomeev, Antonis Papakonstantinou, Lefteris Petrounias, Katerina Stefanidi, Miltos Tentoglou, and Elina Tzengo, as well as the national water polo and artistic swimming teams.
They were joined by several other Greek athletes at sea and at pools, at all stadiums, she underlined, who also "fought with faith and power, without ending up at the pedestal," yet competing for their personal best.
The Greek president praised their persistence, physical and emotional courage, and focus, underlining their character ("ethos") and modesty, which she said "serve as models for the younger generations - this being their greatest contribution to their homeland."
