Anthi Karagianni:interview of the Greek Paralympic Medallist
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow
Helen Keller
On the occasion of the Paralympics in Paris 2024, we had the honour to discuss with the Greek Silver and Bronze Paralympic medalist in athletics, Anthi Karagianni. A woman who turned the shadows to light, curving a path full of triumphs and transcendence.
Anthi Karagianni, born in 1981 in the Greek city of Kavala, is a Greek Paralympic medalist and World Athletics Champion, famous for her performances in speed races and long jump. She has achieved three silver medals in the Paralympics of 2004 and two bronze ones in 2008 and 2012. Throughout her remarkable journey, Anthi became World Champion three times in 2006 (100m, long jump), and in 2007 (long jump) and European Champion in 2007 in long jump and 100m.
As a tribute to her distinctions and contribution, the Municipal Stadium of the city of Kavala has been named after her since 2004. Meanwhile, in 2007 she was awarded the prize of PASP (Panhellenic Association of Sport Press) as the best athlete with a disability in Greece.
Her speech, concise and powerful, like her presence in the sports field, reminds us that human strength can overcome any obstacle. Anthi, is not only an athlete that has won medals; she is a symbol of courage and perseverance for any woman who seeks her personal victory, regardless of the hardships.
Turning the obstacles to strengths
Q: Anthi, can you tell us about your early years in life?
I was born on 22 nd September 1981 in Kavala. I’ve had a vision problem since birth. I can’t see at all with one of my eyes, while in my other eye my vision level is below 1/10. But this is something I’ve had since the day I was born, I’ve learnt to live with it and I don’t consider it a problem.
I didn’t attend a special school. The prejudice was evident then and things were different. Till 2004, people were pointing fingers at all the disabled, saying: “Oh, these poor things, they can’t see well. Oh, these poor things, they’ve got severed legs.” However, the Paralympics in Greece helped a lot, because we developed a lot. We learnt so much.
Q: At school, did you confront any challenges due to your vision problem?
At primary school, I had issues with some kids, who made fun of me. They called me: “crooked, blind and cross-eyed”, these common things. I was a kid that I didn’t share all those happening to me with my parents or anyone else. I came back home, went into my room to study and that was when I found the time to cry and break out. I was deeply hurt.
Q: When and how did you change your attitude towards these hardships?
In secondary school, I started to realize what I am able to do on my own, realize who I am and start to fear nothing. I started to show others that, ok, I have this problem, but I am not a poor thing. I can play, laugh, study, I can do whatever other people can, in my own way though. Gradually, people treated me normally.
Everything starts and stops with us, who have the problem. Any problem. If we show self-pity and complexes, we won’t earn the respect of those around us.
Q: How did sport enter your life?
During adolescence, I began getting systematically involved in sports. At first, I ran with able- bodied people, something that helped me improve as an athlete. Slowly, winnings and medals came, and I achieved my goals one at a time. Ever since I was a young child, I watched athletics tournaments, I
wanted to be an athlete and win medals. And indeed, these dreams came true!
Q: Did you ever feel that your disability may have stood in the way of success?
God helped me turn my disadvantage to an advantage, literally and figuratively. During my personal journey, I had the luck to work with coaches who didn’t think stereotypically and included me in the able-bodied team from the start. I found it harder, bit I coped with it because I could. And these people
were right after all.
Q: Anthi, what would you advise all those who face similar difficulties?
The most important thing is to want to integrate in the community and not be isolated. To believe in ourselves, that we are able to do things. This is something everyone should do whether they have a form of disability or not.
Q: Did you have any role models who inspired you in sports?
Of course, it was the Greek Katerina Thanou and the Jamaican Merlene Ottey. They were outstanding athletes. Katerina Thanou advised me constantly. Do you have any idea what great deal it is to have the greatest Greek athlete engage with you? I tried to soak up information from every piece of advice of hers. It is extremely important to be open to advice from prestigious people and try to apply it.
Q: How did you cope with failures in your career and how did you move beyond them?
I have always wished for a gold Olympic medal, but I never acquired it. I have 4 silver medals and 1 bronze one. In Beijing, I was so close to the gold medal in the long jump, but I didn’t manage it. I showed nothing in front of everyone, but when the lights went out and I entered my room, I burst into tears out
of my anger that I didn’t succeed. I knew I could, but I didn’t make it on that day. I cried, I calmed down, I analyzed the situation and started the new season with other goals, other dreams.
Q: How did you combine sports with your personal life?
At the moment I am married and have a child. I always had my personal life, but I didn’t have the ability to devote to it as much time as my partner needed, as I was dedicated to sports. Overall, I didn’t face a serious issue because I believe that we, ourselves, set our boundaries and state that I can do things up to this point, I tolerate things up to this extent, I want this much.
I’ve always been a tolerant person but, there is a red line at the same time. A line that when crossed by someone, showed me that I could no longer be with him. Anyone who failed to understand my job, because to me sports was a job, could not be with me.
Q: What was your relationship with other athletes? Was there female solidarity in your athletic course?
I never faced any problem with other athletes and friends. They respected me, accepted me, valued me, and I did the same thing for them too. Except for Katerina Thanou who offered me some advice, I occasionally had other athletes advise me, help me and support me psychologically. All athletes understand each other better, that’s why I was lucky in all that.
Q: What is your message to all women and especially to the Women Do Business audience?
I would like to say to all Women Do Business friends that difficulties will never cease to exist. What is of utmost importance is to deal with them ourselves. It is vital to accept a problem and try to find a solution. It all depends on us. If we exaggerate a problem in our mind, it will be big.
Of course, there are very serious issues. There will always be obstacles and problems in our life, but what is necessary is faith in God, patience, will and effort. Never give up, never quit. Never stop making dreams. Always try to fulfil them.
Thank you, Anthi Karagianni! Not only for the medals you presented to Greece, but also for your heroic struggle that inspires us to continue going after our dreams, no matter the hardships. Your ethos reminds us of the statement of the famous British actress, Emma Thompson:
“Being disabled should not mean being disqualified from having access to every aspect of life”.
You are the living proof that the strength of a soul can conquer any obstacle, that the light of hope can enlighten even the darkest of times. You are a woman who defied limitations and wrote her own story. A story worth reading and inspiring all the women who dream, struggle and never quit.
The interview was given to Polyxeni Papadopoulou
Article Editor: Sofia Dialiatsi
