Crowds gathered to welcome Silver Medalist Spiros Gianniotis at Athens airport on Thursday, where he received a hero’s welcome on Thursday. Two days after his success in Rio, he arrived at around 11:40 (local time) to a packed arrival’s gate at Eleftherios Venizelos Athens International Airport.
Moved by the Olympic winner’s sense of fair play and his calls for the Greek delegation to call off a request for two Gold medals to be handed out in the men’s open-water swimming on account of both Gianniotis and Gold medalist Ferry Weertman making the exact same time at 1 hour, 52 minutes and 59.8 seconds.
He told journalists that he cannot believe his victory and treasures it as a “unique” experience. “I gave more than what I had,” he said. “I feel complete as an athlete.” His next goal is to relax.
A press conference followed where Gianniotis was asked about the government’s failure to send a state representative to greet him. Gianniotis put an end to the question by stating that he received a congratulatory telephone call from Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos.
He dedicated his medal to his wife “who puts up with him” and his coach, Nikos Gemelos. The swimmer also thanked his family for getting him involved in sports and the many people who believed in him.
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