Emmanouil Stefanoudakis

Started: He took up Para athletics in 2009 in Moires, Greece, and began competing in the sport one year later. (Athlete, 23 Oct 2015; paralympic.gr, 27 Aug 2012) Reason: He initially tried Para swimming but the lack of facilities for athletes with an impairment meant he switched to Para athletics. He saw the sport as a way of improving his health and changing his life. (Athlete, 23 Oct 2015; athleticradio.gr, 01 Jan 2013) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Instagram profile, 01 Dec 2023) Awards: He and judoka Theodora Paschalidou were named as flag bearers for Greece for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (greekreporter.com, 18 Aug 2024) He received a First Place Award at the 2023 Honorary Awards held by the Hellenic Paralympic Committee. The award was in recognition of the gold medal he won at the 2023 World Championships in Paris, France. (paralympic.gr, 05 Feb 2024) He was flag bearer for Greece at the opening ceremony of the 2018 European Championships in Berlin, Germany. (IPC, 20 Aug 2018) He was named the 2015 Male Para Athlete of the Year by the Panhellenic Association of Sports Press [PSAT] in Greece. (insidethegames.biz, 05 Jan 2016; paralympic.org, 04 Jan 2016) The municipal stadium in Phaistos, Greece, was named after him in recognition of his performances at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. (kritinea.gr, 11 Nov 2012) Additional Info: OTHER ACTIVITIES He has served on the board of directors at the Hellenic Paralympic Committee. He has also held the role of chairperson for an association for people with impairments in Crete, Greece. (iraklionews.gr, 27 Jul 2023)