Rare 'Greek metal': Athletes excel in track and field and swimming

Greek athletes have demonstrated exceptional performances in track and field and swimming, confirming the presence of rare "Greek metal" – a unique blend of talent and dedication. These athletes have translated persistence, discipline, endurance, and countless training hours into significant distinctions.

At the European Championships in Paris, Greek swimmers achieved remarkable success. Apostolos Siscos led the charge, earning a silver medal in the 200m backstroke and a bronze in the 200m butterfly, setting a national record of 1:54.13. These medals add to his previous silver from the 2024 Belgrade championships, bringing his total European Championship medals to three.

The highlight for Greek swimming came when Apostolos Christou clinched the gold medal in the 100m backstroke. He finished in a thrilling 52.27 seconds, narrowly beating Thomas Ceccon by a mere centimeter in a dramatic final. Christou also competed in the 50m backstroke final, finishing fourth and missing a medal by a small margin.

Anna Ntoudounaki also delivered a strong performance in the 100m butterfly, reaching the final and finishing fourth with a time of 57.10. She had previously set a national record in the semifinals with 56.99 but couldn't secure a medal. Georgia Damasioti also competed in the same final, finishing in eighth place.

Among the pleasant surprises was young swimmer Artemis Vasilaki, who reached three finals. She secured fourth place in the 800m freestyle with an impressive national record of 8:26.38, finished seventh in the 1,500m freestyle (16:21.26), and also competed in the 400m freestyle final. Vasilaki had previously broken the national record in the 1,500m freestyle with 16:13.81.