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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Vision impairment
Classification
S12, SB12, SM12
Further personal information
Family
Husband Dimitris Chatzigeorgiou
Residence
Athens, GRE
Occupation
Athlete
Languages
English, Greek
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She began swimming at age eight in Limassol, Cyprus.
Why this sport?
She enjoyed a number of sports when she was younger, and always watched the Olympic Games. She got involved in swimming following advice from a doctor in London, England. "I told my parents that when we got back to Cyprus, I wanted to start swimming."
International debut
Year
2002
Competing for
Cyprus
Location
Buenos Aires, ARG
General interest
Nicknames
Princess of the Pool (parikiaki.com, 25 Aug 2013)
Hobbies
Listening to music, fashion, cooking. (Athlete, 10 Sep 2019)
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning a gold medal in the SB13 100m breaststroke at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens and a silver in the SB12 100m breaststroke at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. (Athlete, 10 Sep 2019; gettyimages.ie, 08 Sep 2012)
Most influential person in career
Her husband Dimitris Chatzigeorgiou. (Athlete, 10 Sep 2019)
Hero / Idol
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, US pole vaulter Sandi Morris, Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal. (Athlete, 10 Sep 2019)
Injuries
In February 2016 she was hospitalised due to the effects of bronchitis, pneumonia and a respiratory virus. (Facebook profile, 14 Sep 2016)
She underwent a series of operations following the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. (incyprus.philenews.com, 30 Apr 2014)
She underwent a series of operations following the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. (incyprus.philenews.com, 30 Apr 2014)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Perfect conditions never exist anywhere. You have to show up and be ready to do your best." (contra.gr, 05 Jun 2019)
Awards and honours
She was flag bearer for Cyprus at the opening ceremonies of the Paralympic Games in 2012 and 2016, as well as the 2016 European Championships in Funchal, Portugal. (myinfo.rio2016.com, 06 Sep 2016; paralympic.org, 26 Apr 2016, 29 Aug 2012)
She was joint winner of the Outstanding Female Elite Para Athlete award at the 2007 Commonwealth Sports Awards. (sgcs.org.uk, 14 Oct 2009)
In 2005 the Cyprus government created a postage stamp in her honour. (NOC, 01 Sep 2012)
She was joint winner of the Outstanding Female Elite Para Athlete award at the 2007 Commonwealth Sports Awards. (sgcs.org.uk, 14 Oct 2009)
In 2005 the Cyprus government created a postage stamp in her honour. (NOC, 01 Sep 2012)
Milestones
She became the first athlete representing Cyprus to win a gold medal at the Paralympic Games when she triumphed in the SB13 100m breaststroke at the 2004 Games in Athens. (SportsDeskOnline, 26 Aug 2019)
Famous relatives
Her husband Dimitris Chatzigeorgiou has worked as a presenter on the ERT television channel in Greece. (fthis.gr, 21 Sep 2018)
Ambitions
To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (goal.philenews.com, 17 Jun 2019)
Impairment
She has lost 97% of her central vision due to damage to cells in her retina. (contra.gr, 05 Jun 2019; like.philenews.com, 20 Apr 2016)
Other information
RESIDENCE
She splits her time between Athens, Greece, and Limassol, Cyprus. (Facebook page, 08 Mar 2020)
She splits her time between Athens, Greece, and Limassol, Cyprus. (Facebook page, 08 Mar 2020)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S13 | Heats | 4 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S13 | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB13 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 200 m Individual Medley SM13 | Heats | 5 | ||
| Women's 200 m Individual Medley SM13 | Final Round | 9999 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S12 | Heats (S11/12) | 5 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S12 | Heats | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S12 | Final Round | 4 | ||
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S12 | Final Round | 4 | ||
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB12 | Heats | 9999 | ||
| Women's 200 m Individual Medley SM12 | Heats | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m Individual Medley SM12 | Final Round | 4 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S12 | Heat 1 | 3 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S12 | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB12 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB12 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m Individual Medley SM12 | Heat 1 | 2 | ||
| Women's 200 m Individual Medley SM12 | Final Round | 3 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB12 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB12 | Final Round | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S13 | Heat 2 | 3 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S13 | Final Round | 8 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S13 | Heat 2 | 4 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S13 | Final Round | 8 | ||
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S13 | Heat 1 | 9999 | ||
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB13 | Final Round | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB12 | Heat 2 | 2012-09-08 | 1 | |
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB12 | Final Round | 2012-09-08 | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB12 | Final 1 | 2013-08-18 | 1 | |
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB12 | Heat 2 | 2013-08-18 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB13 | Heat 2 | 2015-07-17 | 1 | |
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB13 | Final 1 | 2015-07-17 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB13 | Final Round | 2016-09-11 | 4 | |
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB13 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-11 | 4 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB12 | Final 1 | 2017-12-06 | 1 | |
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB12 | Heat 1 | 2017-12-06 | 1 |