Karolina Pelendritou, a para swimmer representing Cyprus

Pelendritou’s talent and dedication have propelled her to the top of her discipline, securing an impressive collection of three gold medals, a silver and two bronze across four Paralympic Games. Her victory at The Paralympic Games not only made her a national hero, but also marked her as the first Cypriot athlete ever to win a Paralympic medal.

Known affectionately as the ‘Princess of the Pool,’ Pelendritou’s achievements extend far beyond the poolside. She has received a wealth of national and international awards, including an honorary recognition from the Republic of Cyprus for her achievements in Tokyo 2020, being named Top Athlete of the Year of the British Commonwealth in 2007 and selected by the French Presidency to represent Cyprus as part of International Women’s Day in 2022. In 2021, Pelendritou demonstrated her exceptional skill and determination by breaking the world record with a time of 1 min 19s 78. This achievement further solidified her status as one of the world’s top para swimmers.

With her unwavering commitment to her sport and her remarkable record of success, Karolina Pelendritou continues to make her nation proud.