Alexandra Stamatopoulou

Started: She took up swimming in 2011 in Athens, Greece. (Athlete, 12 Sep 2019) Reason: She took up the sport as part of her rehabilitation. "When my illness became more intense, I had to go to a healing pool to keep my muscles well. So then I started swimming. My therapist at the time wanted me to try competing. At first, I saw it more like a game, so I did not realise the seriousness and responsibility of being an athlete. But it all changed when I won my first race. I became eager to improve on a competitive level." (Athlete, 12 Sep 2019) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Instagram profile, 27 May 2024) Awards: She was named the 2018 and 2019 Female Para Athlete of the Year by the Panhellenic Association of Sports Journalists. (cnn.gr, 12 Dec 2018; Instagram profile, 16 Dec 2019) Additional Info: ROMANIA TO GREECE Born in Romania, she spent the first five years of her life in an orphanage. She believes her biological parents struggled financially as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine, which affected neighbouring countries, and that this contributed to their decision to give her up. "There was great poverty. Even the richest had no food on their shelves. So Chernobyl was a very important factor. I remember the day I was adopted, I was very happy and at the same time scared. I was leaving a place where there was a specific schedule and I didn't know where I was going. I was also afraid I would do something wrong and find myself in the institution again. My adoptive parents were trying to reassure me by explaining to me that I was their own child and that this would never happen. I had PDD [pervasive developmental disorder], and didn't say a word until I was five. With the proper treatment and support I started talking, but those years were the most difficult of my life." (marieclaire.gr, 18 Oct 2021) DANCING WITH THE STARS In January 2022 she appeared on the Greek version of TV talent show 'Dancing with the Stars', performing a routine in a wheelchair with professional dancer Marina Lampropoulou. "One of the most magical moments of my life. We danced for a good cause. It doesn't matter if we made some mistakes. I would like to thank Marina very much for what she saw in me." (marieclaire.gr, 24 Jan 2022; Instagram profile, 24 Jan 2022)