Paralympic Swimming Champion Alexandra Stamatopoulou became a GLSA Supporter
Athens 25.09.2021. Alexandra Stamatopoulou, a bronze medalist in 2021 Paralympics Games in swimming and sport lifesaver was inducted by the Greek Lifesaving Sports Association as a GLSA Supporter.
Stamatopoulou
said: "According to the World Bank, one billion people, or 15% of the world's population, experience some
form of disability, and disability prevalence is higher for developing
countries. On the other hand, drowning makes no discrimination and thus, we are
all potential victims. The world innovation of the Greek Lifesaving Sports
Association to include athletes with disabilities in lifesaving sport
competitions, demonstrates the vision of its founders for equal opportunities
in the only humanitarian sport of the world. As a Paralympic Winner in Swiming
and recently as a sport lifesaver, I am inspired and support the work of GLSA,
that acting as the home of lifesaving sport, it helps us become better persons
and safer."
Alexandra Stamatopoulou is a graduate of the School of Logotherapy. At the age of 14 she was diagnosed with the stiff person syndrome. She is a swimmer of the sports club Tirteos for persons with disability, coached by Michalis Nikopoulos and accompanied by Anthi Zoubliou. Since 2012 she competes in the Pan-Hellenic Swimming Championships for People with Disabilities. Since 2013, she is the member of the National Team, with which she has participated in numerous international championships with highly commentable rankings. In International Tournaments, she finished 6th on 100m backstroke (2015). In European Championships, she finised 7th place in 50m backstroke (2014), 2nd in 50m backstroke and 3rd in 100m free (2016), 1st in 50m back and 4th in 50m free (2021), 1st in 50m back and 4th in 50m free (2018). In World Championships, she finished at the World Championships (2015), 2nd on 50m free, 3rd on 100m free and 2nd on backstroke (2018), 2nd on 50m free and 4th on 50m free (2019). In Paralympic Games, she finished 5th on 100m free (2016) and 3rd on the 50m backstroke (2021). Her next goal is the World Championship in Funshal 2021.
The GLSA President, Dr. Stathis Avramidis said: "Alexandra is a modest high class athlete. She speaks rarely and performs highly. With almost no assistance, except that from her coaching team, she became the live proof of the Greek miracle, based on which the weak and the few sometimes win the strong and the many. Alexandra's life and her recent outstanding performance in the 2021 Paralympic Games proved that, when she reach the podium together with the two other winners from the strong, proud and big nation of China. Alexandra's life is a testament that everything is possible. We are in dept to her for who she is and how much she has given to Greece. GLSA is proud to induct her among our other Supporters".
