Fotini Papaleonidopoulou was 10 years old when her face became one of the symbols of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Twenty years later, the now 30-year-old, who grew up in SOS Children's Villages, is pursuing her Ph.D. in molecular biology at the Francis Crick Institute. She spoke on the ERT program "Epilogos" on Thursday evening, July 25, about her experience extinguishing the Olympic Flame.
After completing her school years, Fotini studied at the Department of Biology at the University of Patras. In 2017, she won a scholarship to the Watson School of Biological Sciences at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) in the United States. She is now pursuing her Ph.D. in molecular biology at the Francis Crick Institute.
Reflecting on her experience, she said, "We had done some rehearsals, but I didn't know that this image would be seen around the world."
Continuing her statements, she added, "What remains indelible for me is the emphasis on the importance of effort and personal excellence, as demonstrated by athletes through their dedication. Some achieve it at 20, others at 35, winning gold or silver medals. This is a very important example for us. I want to carry these values through my own life."
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