Young athlete recognised for her ethics

President Nicos Anastasiades on Monday recognised a track and field athlete for helping her teammate who had fallen near the finish line at an international multi-sport event.

Lanitio high school student Eleftheria Panayiotou was awarded for ethics and fair play for helping her fellow athlete who had an accident during the world gymnastics championships in Normandy, France in May.

Presenting her with a plaque, Anastasiades said Panayiotou was excellent in the 100 and 200 metres but also received the sportsmanship award at the ISF Gymnasiade.

The athlete is “an example for all our young people,” the president added.

He said it is for this reason he felt the need to invite her personally to the presidential palace, in addition to congratulating the rest of her fellow athletes who took part.

“Because in addition to the sporting spirit that goes hand in hand with fair play, there is also ethos.”

Expressing the gratitude of the state, the president said Panayiotou ignored whether she could have received a higher ranking to stand by a fellow athlete who had an accident during the competition.

Anastasiades congratulated her and her coach, but also her father, George, “who managed to pass on not only the competitive advantage but also the moral advantage to you.”

He added he felt “particularly proud” because out of the 22 Cypriot athletes who took part in the World Gymnastics Championships, 21 managed to be in the top eight.

“We got a total of 12 medals which proves the important work that is being done through sports schools and through the significant efforts of gymnasts and coaches,” he said.

Present at the meeting were the Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou, and the Educational Inspector of Physical Education, Neophytos Papaioannou, who was the leader of the delegation.

Some 3,500 athletes from 67 countries took part in the World Gymnastics Games.