Antonios Tsapatakis

Antonios Tsapatakis (Greek: Αντώνιος Τσαπατάκης; born 13 January 1988) is a Greek Paralympic swimmer.[1] He became a T8-9 complete paraplegic after a spinal cord injury due to a motorbike accident in 2006. He competes in 100m breaststroke SB4 classification.

Antonios Tsapatakis
Personal information
Native nameΑντώνιος Τσαπατάκης
NationalityGreek
BornChania, Crete, Greece
OccupationPolice officer
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight76 kg (168 lb)
Sport
Country Greece
SportPara swimming
DisabilityParaplegia
Disability classSB4, S5
ClubMegalonisos
Coached byChrysafis Vangelakakis
Medal record
Paralympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Tokyo 100m breaststroke SB4
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2022 Madeira100m breaststroke SB4
Gold medal – first place2023 Manchester100m breaststroke SB4
Silver medal – second place2015 Glasgow100m breaststroke SB4
Bronze medal – third place2013 Montreal100m breaststroke SB4
Bronze medal – third place2013 Montreal200m individual medley SM5
Bronze medal – third place2017 Mexico City100m breaststroke SB4
European Championships
Silver medal – second place2014 Eindhoven100m breaststroke SB4
Silver medal – second place2014 Eindhoven200m individual medley SM5
Bronze medal – third place2009 Reykjavik100m breaststroke SB4
Bronze medal – third place2021 Funchal100m breaststroke SB4

Tsapatakis obtained many awards in national (holds two national records), European and global competitions. He possesses more than 20 gold, silver, and bronze medals. His power, passion and determination led him to the 2012 Paralympics in London, which added to his biographical material the 4th place in 100m breaststroke SB4. In 2015, he broke the European record and won the silver medal at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming World Championship in Glasgow.[2]

Early life and education

Tsapatakis grew up in Chania, Crete. Αt the age of five, he started swimming in the public swimming pool of Chania. At the age of 12, he became a polo athlete of Chania swim club, earning awards in swimming and polo alike. In 2005, he enlisted in the academy of the Hellenic Police.

One year later, in December 2006, just outside the swimming pool where he had spent half of his life as a polo player, he lost the control of his motorcycle due to excessive speed. He was ejected against a pavement, resulting in paralysis of the lower limbs. Just under 9 months after becoming paralyzed Tsapatakis was back in the pool and in 2009 he started swimming in the disabled team of Megalonissos. Tsapatakis stated that what drove him back to swimming was his need of independence and becoming active again.[1]

Career

2009 IPC European Championship

Tsapatakis's senior international debut was in 2009 with a bronze medal when he competed at the IPC Swimming European Championships in Iceland. He scored 2:01.33 during the final in 100 metre breaststroke.[3]

2013 IPC Swimming World Championships

In 2013, Tsapatakis attended the IPC Swimming World Championships, in Montreal. He qualified the third position, winning the bronze medal in 100m breaststroke SB4.[4][5]

2013 IPC Swimming World Championships

In the same competition, Tsapatakis obtained a second bronze medal, finishing in the third place (3:27.12), competed in Men's 200m Individual Medley SM5.[6][7]

2014 IPC European Championship

In August, 2014 Tsapatakis attended the IPC European Championship in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, scoring 1:39.23 in 100m breaststroke SB4 classification and winning the silver medal.[8][9]

2015 IPC Swimming World Championships

The men's 100 metre breaststroke at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships was held at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre in Glasgow, United Kingdom where Tsapatakis came with one more silver medal by broking the European record (1:36.75).[2][10]

2016 IPC European Championship

Tsapatakis set a new national record in 50m Butterfly Stroke at IPC Swimming European Championships in Funchal, Portugal.[11] In the same competition, Antonios won the silver medal in men's 100 metre breastroke SB4, completing the race in 1:40.38.[12][13]

2017 IPC Swimming World Championships

At the 2017 IPC Swimming World Championships in Mexico City, Tsapatakis earned one more bronze medal with a score 1:45.12 in men’s 100m breaststroke SB4 final.[14]

2020 IPC European Championship

At the 2020 IPC European Championship in Madeira, Portugal, Tsapatakis scored 1:52.00 in 100m breaststroke SB4 classification, winning the bronze medal.[15]

2020 Summer Paralympics

At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, in Tokyo, Japan, Tsapatakis scored 1:40.20 in Men's 100m breaststroke SB4 classification, winning the bronze medal.[16]

2022 World Para Swimming Championships

At the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira, Portugal, Tsapatakis became World Champion in Men's 100m breaststroke SB4 classification, completing the race in 1:36.27.[17]

2023 Para Swimming World Championships

At the 2023 Para Swimming World Championships in Manchester, UK, Tsapatakis won again the gold medal in Men's 100m breaststroke SB4 classification, completing the race in 1:39.53.[18]

Other projects

In 2016, Antonios co-authored a children’s book with Elena Thoidou. The book entitled “To oneiro”, translating to “The dream”, was launched in June 2016 and one of the biggest dreams of Tsapatakis became reality.[19] The aim of publishing this book was to familiarize children and their parents with the concept of equality while conveying meaningful messages regarding children with special needs.[20] Tsapatakis is actively building upon his career outside of the pool through motivational speeches and other public appearances around the world. Through his position as a police officer in the Hellenic Police, Antonios visits Greek schools to share his experience regarding his accident, trying to motivate and educate children in matters of road safety and traffic rules.[21][22]

References
  1. "Results, Rankings & Records | International Paralympic Committee". Paralympic.org. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  2. "Τέσσερα μετάλλια ο ελληνικός απολογισμός στο παγκόσμιο πρωτάθλημα κολύμβησης της Γλασκόβης". eaom-amea.gr. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  3. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20150924033535/http://www.ifsport.is/ec2009_results/day5_afternoon/SWM324100001..C73A1.1.0.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2021. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. "Swimming - medal ceremony men's 100m breaststroke SB4 - 2013 IPC Swimming Worlds | International Paralympic Committee". Paralympic.org. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  5. http://www.womensportreport.com/2013-ipc-swimming-world-championships/wn/16911 Archived 2019-09-04 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Live Results - 2013 IPC Swimming World Championships Montreal | International Paralympic Committee". Paralympic.org. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  7. "Entries" (PDF). www.finp.it. 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  8. "European Swimming Championships - Eindhoven 2014 | IPC | International Paralympic Committee". Paralympic.org. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  9. Παρασκευή 05 Μαρτίου 2021 (11 August 2014). "Greece bags 14 medals at IPC Swimming European Championships - Ειδήσεις - νέα - Το Βήμα Online". Tovima.gr. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  10. "Silver medal for Antonis Tsapatakis in the IPC Swimming World Championship / John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation". John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation.
  11. "VIDEO: Antonis Tsapatakis sets new national record at IPC Swimming European Championships – CRETEPOST.GR". Chaniapost.eu. 3 May 2016. Archived from the original on 31 August 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  12. "Ασημένιος ο Αντώνης Τσαπατάκης στο Ευρωπαϊκό Πρωταθλήμα κολύμβησης ΑμεΑ - aera.gr". www.aera.gr. 4 May 2016.
  13. "Ευρωπαϊκό Φουνσάλ: Ασημένιος ο Τσαπατάκης, χάλκινο μετάλλιο για Μακροδημήτρη και Σταματοπούλου". eaom-amea.gr. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  14. "Mexico City 2017 - Swimming Live Results | International Paralympic Committee". Paralympic.org. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  15. "Ασημένιος ο Κωστάκης, χάλκινος ο Τσαπατάκης στο Ευρωπαϊκό".
  16. "Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  17. Madeira 2022 World Para swimming Championships - MEN'S 100M BREASTSTROKE SB4 - FINALS
  18. Manchester 2023 Allianz Para Swimming World Championships - MEN'S 100M BREASTSTROKE SB4 - FINALS
  19. "Εκδόσεις Αρχέτυπο - ΤΟ ΟΝΕΙΡΟ". Archetypo.com.gr. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  20. Λουκάς Καρνής (2 December 2016). ""Θέλω να μιλήσω για ισότητα". Ο παραολυμπιονίκης Αντώνης Τσαπατάκης έχει ένα «Όνειρο". CNN.gr. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  21. ""Μάθημα Ζωής" από τον Αντώνη Τσαπατάκη". MegaraTV. 16 January 2019.
  22. "Στη Δράμα ο Παραολυμπιονίκης κολύμβησης Αντώνης Τσαπατάκης Παρουσίαση του βιβλίου "Μάθημα Ζωής" - Πρωινός Τύπος". Proinos-typos.gr. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
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