The Greek team for Paris

The Greek Athletics Association last week announced a 45-member team for Paris 2003 Saint-Denis, the largest Greek team in the history of the IAAF World Championships.

All the Greek medallists in the last World Championships and Olympic Games are included in the team, with the only exception being Javelin thrower Kostas Gatsioudis, who is injured this season.

Kostas Kenteris tops the men’s team and is attempting his second World Championships gold, while Alexandros Papadimitriou, bronze medalist in the European Championships in Munich last year, will participate in the Hammer throw.

Two very interesting participants, from the new generation of the Greek athletics, are Luis Tsatoumas, the European Under 23 Champion in the Long Jump, who has a personal best of 8.34m this year and Periklis Iakovakis, who clocked a national record of 48.25 in the 400m Hurdles in Zurich a few days ago.

The women’s team includes all the country’s major stars.

Katerina Thanou, European sprint champion in Munich last year, will run in Paris although this year she has suffered with some injury problems in 2003.

Katerina Voggoli, the European Discus champion, but also Anastassia Kelesidou and Mirela Manjani are also among the Greek hopes for medals in Paris.

It is also interesting to note the participation of Niki Xanthou in the Long Jump, and also the return of the very experienced triple jumper, Olga Vasdeki, who has overcome the injury problems of the last two years.

Two more European Under 23 Champions are included in the women’s team: Georgia Kokloni in the 4X100m relay and Athanassia Tzoumeleka in the 20km Race Walk.

The Greek team for Paris -

MEN:
Georgios Theodoridis (100 m.), Kostas Kenteris (200 m.)  Anastassios Goussis  (200 m. and 4X400 m.) Panayotis Sarris (200 m. and 4X400 m.) Stelios Dimotsios (400 m. aqnd 4X400 m.), Periklis Iakovakis (400 m.hurdles and 4X400 m.), Nikolaos Pollias (Marathon), Spiridon Kastanis (50000 m. walk), Luis Tsatoumas (long jump), Dimitrios Filindras (long jump), Dimitrios Serelis (Long jump), Christos Meletoglou (triple jump), Alexandros Papadimitriou (hammer throw), Dimitrios Tsomos (4X400 m.), Georgios Doupis (4X400 m.), Dimitrios Gravalos (4X400 m.).

WOMEN:
Ekaterini Thanou (100 m. and 4×100 m.), Chrysa Goudenoudi  (400 m. and  4×400 m.), Chrisostomia Iakovou (5.000 m. and 10000 m.), Flora Redoumi (100 m. hurdles), Athanassia Tzoumeleka (20.000 m. walk), Argyro Strataki (heptathlon), Georgia Tsiliggiri (pole vault), Niki xanthou (long jump), Stella Pilatou (long jump), Chrissopigi Devetzi (triple jump), Olga Vasdeki (triple jump), Irene Terzolgou (shot put), Kalliopi Ouzoun (shot put), Ekaterini Voggoli (discus throw), Anastassia Kelesidou (discus throw), Stella Tsikouna (discus throw), Alexandra Papageorgiou (hammer throw), Evdokia Tsamoglou (hammer throw), Mirela Manjani (javelin throw), Angeliki Tsiolakoudi (javelin throw), Georgia Kokloni (4X100 m.), Marina Vassarmidou (4X100 m.), Olga Kaidatzi (4X100 m.), Magda Pantaleon (4x100 m.), Athina Kopsia (4X100 m.), Fani Chalkia (4×400 m.), Georgia Koumnaki (4×400 m.), Charoula Bouda (4×400m.), Christina Chatzi (4X400 m.).