Nikolaos Papangelis

Started: He took up the sport in 2014. (odd3.cc, 18 Oct 2020) Reason: "I started swimming to lose the weight I had gained from the amputation and chemotherapy. I tried various sports and chose cycling. I loved the bike because it gives me the speed I cannot have on my feet. When I got on the bike and I felt I could go fast whenever I wanted, it won me over from the first moment. I do a lot of training on the road and people recognise me and give me courage and strength." (en.famagusta.news, 28 Apr 2023; protothema.gr, 03 Feb 2020) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (paralympic.org, 18 Aug 2023) Additional Info: MOUNT OLYMPUS In 2021 he completed a two-day expedition to the summit of Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece, alongside a support group. "We achieved something that most people considered impossible, even me. I became the first man with a foot amputation in Greece who manages to step on the top of Olympus. It was a dream and a goal I had for a long time. It is difficult for me to describe in words the feelings and images that I experienced during these two days on Mount Olympus with the whole team. Throughout the journey I thought I would not make it. The difficult ascents, the steep paths, and the strange weather conditions made me believe it more and more." (insidethegames.biz, 07 Oct 2021)