Emmanouil Karalis secured the silver medal in the men's pole vault at the European Outdoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham after clearing a height of 6 metres.
The Greek athlete finished second behind Sweden's Mondo Duplantis, who was pushed to clear 6.15 metres to claim the gold medal after Karalis produced a strong challenge throughout the final.
Karalis returned to the team hotel following the medal presentation ceremony, where fellow athletes and Greek delegation staff assembled to greet him.
Sofia Sakorafa, the president of the Hellenic Athletics Federation, was the first official to welcome the pole vaulter as he arrived at the team quarters.
Members of the Greek delegation cheered for Karalis and informed him that a party was waiting inside. Karalis smiled and responded that they should go inside to have drinks together.
Hotel Welcome and Team Celebrations
The reception concluded a successful campaign for the Greek delegation on the final day of track and field events in Birmingham.
During the final, Karalis forced Duplantis to jump 6.15 metres to secure gold, marking the Swedish athlete's fourth consecutive European title. After the competition, Karalis and Duplantis shared an embrace on the track before Duplantis celebrated with his wife.
Championship Results and Career Medals
The silver medal in Birmingham was the fourth European medal of Karalis's career. Speaking after the podium ceremony, Karalis stated that no height frightened him any longer and added that he was hungry for future achievements.
His second-place finish contributed to a double medal success for Greece at the championships alongside swimmer Apostolos Christou, who won a gold medal in his event.
Other Greek competitors experienced contrasting fortunes during the tournament. Javelin thrower Elina Tzengko expressed disappointment with her performance, stating that she had been unacceptable on the day and felt ashamed because she knew her capabilities.
The European Athletics Championships are organized biennially by European Athletics, bringing together top track and field athletes across the continent. Karalis, known by his nickname Manolo, represents Greece internationally under the auspices of the Hellenic Athletics Federation, known as SEGAS.
