Alexandra Stamatopoulou won the gold medal at the Paralympics in the 50 m. backstroke on the day of her 38th birthday, in the last race of her career. She was born healthy, grew up in an orphanage in Romania and was adopted by a Greek family at the age of five. The beautiful girl was confined to a wheelchair by the rigid man syndrome, which she contracted after the first two decades of her life.
She first fell into the pool for therapeutic reasons and to this day regularly undergoes facelifts, fighting hard to keep her body fit and functional with dance and acrobatic gymnastics. A few seconds after her golden finish in the swimming pool of La Défense in Paris, the smiling Alexandra burst into tears of unspeakable joy.
What did that lovely cry in the pool really mean?
Everything burst out inside me, all together! The hard times I lived through, the lung surgery a year ago. First I made the victory sign, as I did when my mother was fighting. It was the trademark we had between us, so he could see me on TV. I looked around, realized I won and said “yeah, we did it”. Every fight I have now is a victory. I didn’t want to end my career defeated. But please don’t post any of the stupid pictures of me crying (laughs)! Only smiles are my career, that’s me. I don’t want my last pictures to show an athlete crying…
How are the days that followed?
Fantastic! From the beginning, I considered my presence at the Games a celebration. In between, however, I fell very psychologically and saw my dream become very distant. Something happened with my condition and my muscles were cramping in the water. Where I was talking about medals, I suddenly fear that I wouldn’t even make it to the finish line. Fortunately, I had people around me who encouraged me. “You came here for a purpose and you will compete normally, don’t care even if you come second last” said my teammate Dora Poimenidou. Even the day before the fight I had a panic attack. I was looking for my swimsuit and I couldn’t find it! I was afraid I had forgotten it in Athens. The morning I woke up, however, everything was positive. I asked the universe to give me a present for my birthday and it happened. With Athena and hand moves.
You became confined to a wheelchair at the age of 20-22. Really, where do you find the smile when life treats you so hard?
Don’t look at me so calm. He is a man who, when he feels injustice, breaks everything! I don’t take things lightly. Fortunately, since 2016 I have had two people by my side who have helped me immensely: my coach Michalis Nikopoulos and my companion Anthi Zoumpliou. Unfortunately, the regulations did not allow both to enter the Paralympic Village. Of course, I paid for the escort out of my own pocket. Well done to my sponsors, Dimello, PWC and Motor Oil who covered my preparation costs. I wouldn’t have made it to Paris without their help.
Alexandra, are things changing for the better all these years in Greece?
In terms of power, nothing at all. See only the laws they pass. They think it seems that disabled people have some nonsense in our heads and don’t understand anything. I had promised to continue swimming until I saw changes, but unfortunately I couldn’t. At least I fought for it, not for my own superego but for the younger generations. In society, however, things are changing. I have never received so many messages of support from ordinary people. Not only this year when I won at the Paralympics, but even more so when my body gave out and I struggled. “We believe you and look to enjoy it” they wrote to me. “We don’t care if you come out first or last.” And there were too many of them.
What is the most valuable asset that a person with a disability should have?
The knowledge. To know his rights and to be ready to support his fight with the appropriate tools. This is what I will devote myself to now that I will stop swimming. I will incorporate reading into my daily routine, I will be taught sign language at a good level, I will learn things that I neglected and that I had forgotten that I can do.
Do you think the gold medal will change your life?
It has already changed her, psychologically at least. This wonderful thing that I have acquired can no longer be taken away from me. Of course, I understand that the news lasts two or three days. I step firmly on my feet and do not ride the rod. I declare myself a professional athlete, without fanfare. Nothing more and nothing less. You sit in your chair, I sit in my wheelchair. For years I saw myself through the eyes of others, who in our country tend to marginalize people with disabilities. I don’t say this in a bad mood. They just don’t know. All right, I continue as I was.
But wasn’t the landing on the planet Greece somewhat abrupt?
Well, yes. The ramp for the handicapped was blocked, but I was so glad it didn’t bother me. “Close them all” I said, “I’ll jump like Tendoglou and go over…”.
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