Nikos Kaklamanakis

Olympic Medals

1G 1S

Sailing

Gold medal, July 29, 1996, Mistral windsurfing. Atlanta 1996

Nikos Kaklamanakis had been preparing for a long time in the venue of the Atlanta Olympics. He knew the waters very well and had worked really hard. Of course, he had also won the world title that year, which put him on the list of favourite winners. But sailing and windsurfing always hold many surprises and unexpected events. However none of them happened to the Greek champion, who showed an amazing performance throughout the Games. He started with a 5th place in the first race, but let follow a first and a second place in the next two races, which brought him directly to the top of the ranking. From then on, he was always ahead until the end, taking three more first places (5th, 7th, 8th races). It was obvious that he could endure the sweet loneliness of the summit with his performance. At the end of the 8th race, Nikos Kaklamanakis had already secured the gold medal, regardless of what position he would take in the ninth and final race. With 17 penalty points he won ahead of Espinola (Argentina) 21 b. and Fridman (Israel) 21 b. The final ranking: Kaklamanakis (Greece) 17 points Espinola (Argentina) 19 Fridman (Israel) 21 Mckintosh (Z. Zealand) 27 De Chavigny (France) 37 Gebhardt (USA) 41 Rodrigues (Portugal) 42 Todd (Australia) 48

Silver medal, August 25, 2004, Windsurfing. Athens 2004

The soul of Greek sailing champion Nikos Kaklamanakis is hard to find. Eight years after the Atlanta Games, the experienced sailor wanted to be back on the podium, and despite the problems at the beginning of the Games (cancellation of the first race), he finally succeeded. In the Mistral he was constantly on course for a medal, but sometimes it came closer, sometimes he moved away from Kaklamanakis chest. In the end it was clear that everything would be decided in the last race, and it did. At the penultimate buoy, the 36-year-old Greek champion was in 17th place, far behind and far from the podium. Then his soul spoke. He gave it his all, and with a frenetic rhythm of his hands, he moved up to 10th place and the silver medal. Nikos Kaklamanakis was the last torchbearer at the opening ceremony and the athlete who lit the cauldron in the Olympic Stadium. The ranking Fridman (Israel) 42 points Kaklamanakis (Greece) 52 Dempsey (M. Great Britain) 53 Bimba(Brazil) 54 Miarczynski (Poland) 73 Rodrigues (Portugal) 78 Zhou(China) 84 Kleppich (Australia) 84.

They said..

“I am lucky to have… survived. They were the hardest races I participated in, I suffered so many hours under the sun, some days I did not have a boat, then there was the tide that sometimes rose and sometimes fell. A few other times I had to do the mechanic with so many problems I had. But today we are celebrating. I want to share this medal with all those who helped me and believed in me, and there are many, I want to share it with all Greeks.”

July 29, 1996

“The last race was one of the hardest in my career. Fortunately, my soul did not betray me at the end. I wanted the gold medal, but silver is also good. In most races the conditions were not favorable for me. Fortunately, the love I get from people always helps me.”

August 25, 2004