After a sensational performance, Greek rowing Olympian Stefanos Ntouskos won the gold medal on Sunday at the World Rowing Championships held in Shanghai.
The Greek athlete competed with excellent tactics and was 3rd in the first 500 meters of the single sculls final and 2nd in the 1,000 meters. At that point in the course, Ntouskos accelerated and passed 1st in the 1,500 meters to cut the finishing line first after 6 minutes, 36 seconds, and 75 milliseconds.
As he had done at the Tokyo Olympics four years ago, the Greek rowing world champion delivered an impressive performance throughout the race. In the final meters, he caught up with his opponents, took the lead, and left the other rowers no opportunity to react.
Despite his intense effort, the German Oliver Seidler, who led until the 1,400-meter mark, finished 42 centimeters behind Stefanos Ntouskos with a time of 6:37.17, while the bronze medal went to the Belarusian Yauheny Zalaty, who finished in 6:38.60.
First Greek gold in single sculls
Stefanos Ntouskos‘ gold in Shanghai is Greece’s first medal in the men’s single sculls at the World Rowing Championships and the first gold medal in any boat category since 2014.
Shortly after the finish, the Greek Olympian and world champion spoke with ERT, Greece’s state-owned public broadcaster:
“I believed I can do it. I am very tired and I thank everyone who is by my side and supports me in this effort. I am very happy, I have no words. The race went the way I wanted and in the 1,000 meters I believed in it even more. I was patient and in the last 150 meters I gave it everything I had. It’s incredible.”
The Greek rowing champion added:
“I thank Greece and all the Greeks. I hope I gave them a little joy. I…like the East, it’s the…golden East. I felt like I was going for the gold. I hope I can be an example to young kids. We may be a small country and the others may seem…giants, but in the end, it is the Greek soul that counts. When [we] reach the top, it’s something unique, something shocking. The goal is recognition. I want to work and be in excellent shape, as I am now, for the Olympic medal in Los Angeles. Now I can…laugh. Thank you everyone.”
Greek Prime Minister, President of the Republic congratulate Greek rowing athlete Greek Stefanos Ntouskos for winning gold
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulated the Greek athlete posting on X: “Congratulations to Stefanos Ntouskos on winning the gold medal at the World Rowing Championships in Shanghai, making us all proud. Thank you for lifting Greece high!”
President of Greece Konstantinos Tasoulas made the following statement:
“Congratulations to our Olympic Champion Stefanos Ntouskos, who, competing in the single sculls final at the World Rowing Championships being held in Shanghai, made an amazing effort and fulfilled his dream of a gold medal in a World event. Stefanos, with your ‘oars,’ your effort, your perseverance and your patience you always raise Greece to the highest podium by teaching the young and the old.”
Stefanos Ntouskos represented Greece with distinction, winning the gold medal in men’s single sculls at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the Greek rowing champion finished 6th in the men’s lightweight coxless four.
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