“Cyprus, do you understand what a compatriot of ours has done?” was the cry from Cyprus’ Paralympic Committee on Friday morning after Karolina Pelendritou won a bronze medal in the SB11 category 100 metres breaststroke on Thursday night.
Pelendritou’s bronze medal is her second at this year’s Paralympic Games, having won a silver medal in the 50m freestyle event on Saturday, and her eighth medal overall, having now competed at six Paralympic Games.
“Cyprus, have you understood that from the loudspeakers of a packed stadium here at Paris’ La Defense Arena, there was a special mention of her name? Cyprus, have you realised that Karolina Pelendritou at these 17th Summer Paralympic Games has won two more medals?” Cyprus’ Paralympic Committee continued.
It added, “the rest is unnecessary because if we have not understood, comprehended, realised, there is a whole rest of the planet which has bowed down to the talent, to the single-mindedness, to the strength, to the will of Karolina Pelendritou.”
Cyprus Athletics Association chairman Yiannis Ioannou was in Paris for the event, and said Pelendritou is “a view of will and competitiveness”.
“For the umpteenth time you made us proud. Our country will be eternally grateful to you,” he added.
Cyprus’ presidency congratulated Pelendritou in a post on X. “Warm congratulations to our Karolina Pelendritou, who continues to make us proud by recording another great success for Cyprus … Karolina, thank you again! The determination, steely strength, and endurance you have shown all these years are an inspiration to us,” it said.
Pelendritou finished third behind neutral athlete Daria Lukianenko and Chinese swimmer Jia Ma, recording a time of 1:21.64. Both Lukianenko and Ma finished inside Pelendritou’s previous Paralympic record of 1:19.78, which she set in Tokyo in 2021.
Her success at this games means she has now won 80 per cent of all of Cyprus’ Paralympic medals ever, with Cyprus’ only other medals both being won by runner Antonis Aresti in Beijing in 2008.
