"Gold" for Antonis Tsapatakis at World Swimming Championship in 100m. front SB4
The "bronze" Paralympian from Tokyo "wrote" history at the World Championship in Portugal, as he won the first Greek medal, but also the first gold medal of his career at the world championship level.
Specifically, Antonis Tsapatakis, in the 100m final. front SB4 clocked a time of 1: 36.27 and finished in first place. While his performance is a new Panhellenic record. The previous one belonged to him with 1: 36.33 from July 18th, 2015 in England.
The swimmer from Chania, came second in the first 50th (45.23), but in the final straight he had no problem to pass the Colombian Moises Fuentes Garcia (1: 36.84) and finish first (in 2019 he was 4th in the respective race).
Lastly, from the Greek side, Giannis Kostakis was 5th in the 50m. front SB (1: 08.20), while Maria Tsakonas was ranked 8th in the 100m. supine S6 (1: 45.38). Outside the final at 50m. free S5, Alexandros Lergios remained with a time of 37.40.
Congratulations from PM Mitsotakis to the "gold" Antonis Tsapatakis:
For the conquest of the gold medal by Antonis Tsapatakis at the World Swimming Championship for the Disabled in Portugal, the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis made the following post:
"Many congratulations to the World Champion, Antonis Tsapatakis. After the bronze at the Tokyo Paralympics, he won the gold medal in the 100m. front, at the World Championship in Madeira, setting a new national record. Thank you Antonis! You make us proud!"
"Winners for every effort":
Antonis Tsapatakis, for his part, wrote a very beautiful message, after his success. The swimmer from Chania stood by the importance of the effort. Details of what he wrote:
"In every school or structure I visit, children ask me how I feel about having a gold medal or how much gold I have won. But while I was counting many medals, I had never won any gold!
But what made them see me as if I had won gold, was my constant effort, so that alone made me a winner in their eyes!
Especially when I explained to them the facts and the importance of not giving up their goals, they left, now knowing how they would see themselves as winners for their every effort…
With plentiful gold medals, either material or intangible."
