- 1. ΑΝΤΗΙ ΚΑRAGIANNI
Anthi Karagianni was born in Kavala on September 22nd, 1981 with impaired vision. Her friends encouraged her to take up sports. She has studied Accounting in English and works as a civil servant.
In 2002 at the age of 21 she took part in and won the gold and the silver medals in the World Championship. She participated in Athens Paraolympics in 2004 and won three silver medals. A year later she won one more silver medal in the European Championship. Her success continued in the World Championships in 2006 and 2007 when she won the gold medals. In 2007 the Pan-Hellenic Association of Sports Press declared Anthi Karagianni as ‘’the athlete of the year’’ for her success. In 2008 she participated in the Beijing Paraolympics and won the bronze medal. Moreover, she participated in the 2012 Paraolympic Games in London and won the bronze medal.
She is a member of the «Iris of Kavala» Sports Club. She lives in Kavala and is trained with Andreas Efstathiou, who is her personal coach. Finally, the stadium of Kavala is named after her to her honor! Athletes like Anthi are symbols of strength and idols for young people!
Source: Wikipedia
Nikos K. , class B2
2. Anna Verouli
Anna Verouli was born in Kavala on November 13th, 1956. She has been a javelin champion. Anna Verouli along with Sophia Sakorafa have been the leading worldwide athletes in javelin at the start of 1980’s.
She started the athletics at the age of 14. She was withdrawn from the active action at the age of 36, in 1993. The most important moment in her career was when she won the golden medal in the 1982 European Championship in Athens. She broke the record, 70.02 metres. It was the first time that Greece had won a golden medal! One year later, Anna Verouli won the bronze medal in the World Championship in Helsinki.
In 1984 she was going to take part in the Los Angeles Olympic Games. Greece hoped to win one more medal. However, she was excluded from the Games because she used a forbidden substance.
Moreover, Anna Verouli took part in the 1988 Olympic Games in South Korea and in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Unfortunately, she did not manage to be one of the athletes in finals.
During her career Anna Verouli has won seven golden medals in Greek Championships, three golden and a silver medal in Balkan Championships and two golden and a silver medal in Mediterranean Championships!
Since 1990 she has been interested in politics. She was elected as a city councilor in Athens twice in 1990 and in 2010 and as a prefecture councilor in 2002.
In 1993 the Town Council of Kavala wanted to honor her. That’s why it named the second biggest football stadium of the municipality as ‘’Veroulio Stadium’’. Its capacity is 5,000 people. The biggest stadium in Kavala is the Anthi Karagianni Stadium.
Source: Wikipedia
Nikos L., class B2
3. ANTIGONE VALAKOY
Antigone Valakou was one of the major protagonists of the Greek drama and cinema. She was born in Kavala in 1930.In 1946 at the age of 16 she moved to Athens with her family. She studied at the Athens Drama School. Vassilis Rotas was her teacher.
She has taken part in many theatrical and film performances. She has acted many important roles in W. Shakespeare, Morgan, B. Shaw, Miller’s plays. In 1958 she was awarded with the Marika Kotopouli’s prize for her theatrical performance “Anna Frank“. In 1999 she was honored by the Olympus Festival for her long-lasting special offer to the theater and art. In 2001 she was awarded with the Grand Prize by the Theatre Union of Greek actors. In 2002 the President of the Greek Democracy, Kostis Stephanopoulos, honored her with the Golden Cross, the highest honor that the Greek State can award! Antigone Valakou was a professor at the Drama School of the National Theatre, where she taught acting during the period 1982-2007. One of her last appearances on TV was on the series ‘’Peri Anemon kai Idaton.’’ She died on November 12th, 2013.
The theater of Kavala was named after her. It is at the centre of Kavala. At this theatre people can see a lot of important performances. Many cultural events are also hosted there.
Source: Wikipedia
Nikos K. ,class B2
Time in Salonica 