Emmanuel Karalis left a moving message of justification after the bronze medal he won at the Olympics in Paris. The Olympian gave the first statements after the great success to ERT and talked about many of the difficulties he went through until he reached one of the world’s peaks.
The Olympic bronze medalist said, among other things:
“Now that I’ve calmed down a bit I think about what I’ve been through as an athlete, as a person all the difficulties I’ve been through, the depression, the racism, all the difficulties, the injuries. And I can say that everything I’ve been through has made me the person I am now. A strong man, a man who now has self-confidence and a… third Olympian [γέλια]»
Emmanuel Karalis has remained grounded despite the massive success and when asked to give a message to new kids watching him, he said:
«I’m not an expert yet. I overcome moments to have more moments, good and bad. I am twenty-four years old and what I want to say to young children is that they should believe in their dreams, not give up. This road is very difficult, but with persistence, patience. They used to tell me that when I was little and I was like what are you talking about, but in the end it’s true. Perseverance and patience and faith in yourself are what will make you do miracles.»
Emmanuel Karalis’ first statements after the medal had another emotional moment, as he talked about the role his parents played.
“Of course I, as a person, am a person who wants to enjoy the fight. I want to enter with my heart and soul in all matches. Now in the Olympiad ok, I wanted to get a medal. I had told my family. I had said I want to leave, I will leave here with a medal. I believed so. My parents thought so too. And when you see people around you, your own people believing and believing in you, then everything becomes possible. They are getting real. In my mind. I made it, I made my parents cry. I went, hugged them, thanked them for the faith and energy they have given me all these years and this is an incredible thing that happened. Today I still don’t understand what I have done, but as soon as I go to the Olympic Village with my family they will let me understand, I hope”
Then and now: Karalis and Duplantis celebrate together – The photo from 2015
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