The Hellenic Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission awarded the athletes who have qualified for the Olympic Games “Paris 2024” and have completed their university studies.

In the HOC’s Amphitheater the following athletes were awarded:

• Margarita Plevritou (Women’s Water Polo)
• Eleftheria Plevritou (Women’s Water Polo)
• Chrysoula Diamantopolou (Women’s Water Polo)
• Ioanna Chydirioti (Women’s Water Polo)
• Andreas Vazaios OLY (Swimming)
• Kristian Gkolomeev OLY (Swimming)
• Giannis Fountoulis OLY (Men’s Water Polo)
• Konstantinos Genidounias OLY (Men’s Water Polo)
• Manos Zerdevas OLY (Men’s Water Polo)
• Panagiotis Tzortzatos (Men’s Water Polo)
• Nikos Papanikolaou (Men’s Water Polo)
• Anna Ntountounaki OLY (Swimming)
• Apostolos Christou OLY (Swimming)
• Evangelia Platanioti OLY (Artistic Swimming)
• Sofia Malkogeorgou (Artistic Swimming)
• Theodora Gkountoura OLY (Fencing)
• Antigoni Ntrismpioti OLY (Athletics)
• Georgios Mpouglas (Cycling Road)

The HOC President, Mr. Spyros Capralos, while addressing the athletes stated: “As a former athlete, I am aware of how hard it is to be an elite level athlete who is aiming for an important distinction. Sacrifices and hard, physical and mental, preparation, are required.

In such a busy schedule of trainings and competitions, it is difficult to find time and space for anything else. It’s not impossible, of course, but I’m well aware of how much effort it takes. All of you have proven that nothing is impossible if you have faith, will and love for what you do. Only then can you combine a remarkable sports career with the completion of your studies.

At the same time, you are setting an example for your teammates, that if they truly believe it, they can lay the foundations for an exceptional professional future.”

The Chair of the HOC’s Athletes’ Commission, Mrs. Voula Kozompoli, highlighted: “Elite level athletes’ dual career is an issue of increasing concern to all of us and to other people around the world. The Hellenic Olympic Committee through its Athletes’ Commission, for which I have the honor to chair, has recognized how important this topic is for our athletes and has taken action over the last 2 years through 2 projects, which aimed at raising awareness, guiding, and substantially supporting our athletes in relation to their dual career. 

The first project was implemented in cooperation with 4 other Olympic Committees, and aims to provide knowledge, highlight the important and encourage distinguished athletes to manage their dual career. The second project concerns the personal support to each athlete both in the choice of their studies and in their subsequent professional rehabilitation. The latter one is carried out in cooperation with Ms. Christina Nikolopoulou, HOC’s organizational psychologist.

But today, we are also here to reward the most stellar tangible examples of dual career, our athletes who have already qualified for the Olympic Games in Paris and have acquired university degrees, while some of them have acquired postgraduate degrees as well!”

The event was conducted in the context of the EU – funded project for the promotion of dual career “Olympic Committees for Dual Career – OCDC”. The Head of the HOC’s EU projects department, Mrs. Georgia Papathanasiou, presented the project’s deliverables.

One of the deliverables was the Findings of the survey that took place in the 5 partner countries and aimed to map the knowledge, challenges and expectations related to dual career. Another project deliverable were the online courses which were developed for junior and senior elite athletes. The online courses exist in English, while they have also been translated into the 5 local languages and are available to everyone after having completed their registration in the respective platform. To register, athletes will only need their personal email and a password of their choice. The online courses are available through the following links:

Online courses for junior elite athletes

Online courses for senior elite athletes