The historic silver medal of Apostolos Christos (first in a pool and first in a pool event since 1896 when the swimming competitions were held in Pasalimani) in the 200m backstroke was his absolute vindication and offered endless smiles throughout Greece. After the "bitter" fourth place in the 100m, the athlete of Panagiotis Velentzas achieved what no one could have imagined, in an event in which - in theory - he does not specialize. He achieved a Panhellenic record in the final with 1:54.82 and lost only to Hungarian Hubert Kos, who took first place with 1:54.26.
Three days before, he missed the bronze medal in his "good" event, the 100m, by two centimeters. backstroke. He had thought about not going down to 200m. backstroke, which was not his forte, but Apostolos Christou reconsidered, went down and is now an Olympic silver medalist.
"It is incredible. In three days I went from hell to heaven. Huge upheaval in my feelings. I knew I had potential, I came in strong from the start, forced my way, in the end I lost power but I had a good gap and managed to get the medal. I gave it my all to overcome and I was rewarded. I can't believe it, I always had the 100m in mind, but the work I did covered part of the 200m as well. Coach told me to come in fast and stay strong. Because I had strength I stayed ahead, because I was much more rested than usual. Now the 200 is my favorite", said Christou clearly moved.
Shortly after his great success, the Greek Olympian was awarded. Smiling but also crying with emotion, Christou climbed to the second step of the podium, and together with Hubert Kos (gold) and Roman Mityukov (bronze) celebrated this huge success.
"I have no words, a little bit on the podium I started to realize what is happening, but my mind can't accept it. It is a huge success. And it came in a competition that I honestly didn't believe. And this is a sign to fight every chance we get. The Olympic medal is the ultimate success for an athlete, it completes him everywhere. That's why I kissed it. It has been many years of effort, culminating in this event. It is a crucial time to cope with the pressure and give your best. Now I have proven that I am much more mature", said the Greek Olympian after the award.
Christou became the second Greek athlete to win a medal at the Paris Olympic Games, after the bronze medalist in the 90 kg category in judo, Thodoris Tselidis, and today, on the 7th day of the Games, he now enters the "battle" even more actively and athletics, a total of 20 Greek athletes and two teams - the men's national team in basketball and the women's national team in water polo - will fight for new distinctions.
In addition to the two national races, the show is stolen by the Greek rowers in the morning, as Christina Bourbou / Evangelia Anastasiadou take part in three finals at a distance of 26 minutes - from 11:54 to 12:18 (11:54, final women's doubles), Antonis Papakonstantinou / Petros Gaidatzis (12:06, men's lightweight final) and Zoe Fitsiu / Milena Kontou (12:18, women's lightweight final).
Earlier, at 10:00 and 10:30 they start their participation in the 25m pistol qualifiers. women's Anna Korakaki and on the first day of the men's skit Makis Mitas and Babis Chalkiadakis.
In athletics, Michalis Anastasakis and Christos Franzeskakis will start in the men's hammer throw qualifiers (A' and B' groups respectively), while at 13:03 Apostolos Christou, Vangelis Doumas, Anna Dountounaki and Nora Drakou enter the 4X100 mixed team qualifiers.
At 13:05 Ariadni Spanakis and Odysseas Spanakis start the 1st day of the 470 mixed, while at 14:30 the national men's basketball team plays its last "card" for qualification to the quarterfinals against Australia.
At 16:35 the national women's water polo team plays a "final" against Italy for their qualification to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
The day "closes" the swimming and Christian Golomeev, who will claim another great distinction in his participation in the 50m final. men's freedom.
The detailed program of the Greek athletes on the 7th day of the Paris Olympic Games is as follows:
Friday, August 2
Shooting – Satoru
10:00 women's 25m pistol qualifiers - ANNA KORAKAKI
10:30 men's preliminary skits, first day - MAKIS MITAS - BABIS HALKIADAKIS
Athletics – Stade de France – ERT2 11:00
11:10 men's XNUMXst group hammer throw qualifiers - MICHALIS ANASTASAKIS
11:15 women's height qualifiers – TATIANA GUSIN – PANAGIOTA DOSI
12:35 men's XNUMXnd group hammer throw qualifiers – CHRISTOS FRANZESKAKIS
12:50 women's 100m qualifiers - POLYNIKI EMMANOUILIDOU
Swimming – La Defense Arena – ERT3 12:00
12:00 mixed medley 4x100m medley heats – ANNA DOUDOUNAKI, NORA DRAKOU, APOSTOLOS CHRISTOU, VAGELIS DUMAS
Rowing – Ver sur Marne – ERT1 10:30
12:42 Women's two-hander FINAL – CHRISTINA BOURBOOU, EVANGELIA ANASTASIADOU
13:02 Men's lightweight double sculls FINAL – ANTONIS PAPAKONSTANTINOU, PETROS GAIDATZIS
13:22 Women's lightweight double sculls FINAL – MILENA KONTOU, ZOI FITSIOU
Sailing – Marseille Marina – ERT3 15:00
13:05 first day of mixed 470 – ARIADNI SPANAKI – ODYSSEAS SPANAKIS
Basketball – Pierre Moreau Stadium – ERT1 14:30
14:30 men's first group, 3rd matchday - AUSTRALIA - GREECE
Water Polo - Water Sports Center - ERT3 16:30
16:35 second group, women's 3rd round - GREECE - ITALY
Swimming – La Defense Arena – ERT3 12:00
21:30 Men's 50m freestyle FINAL – CHRISTIAN GOLOMEEV