Manolis Stefanoudakis

Manolis Stefanoudakis (Greek: Μανώλης Στεφανουδάκης born 5 April 1983) is a Paralympian athlete from Greece who competes in category F54 throwing events.[1] He won a bronze and a gold medal in the javelin throw at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics, respectively.[2]

Manolis Stefanoudakis

Stefanoudakis In 2012
Personal information
Nationality	Greek
Born	(1983-04-05) 5 April 1983 Heraklion, Greece
Sport
Country	Greece
Sport	Paralympic athletics
Disability class	F54
Event(s)	javelin throw, shot put
Club	Megalonissos: Heraklion
Coached by	Giorgos Varveraki
Medal record Representing  Greece Paralympic Games 2012 London Javelin F54/55/56 2016 Rio Javelin F53/54 IPC World Championships 2013 Lyon Javelin F54/55/56 2015 Doha Javelin F54 IPC European Championships 2014 Swansea Javelin F54 2016 Grosseto Javelin F54

Personal history

Stefanoudakis was born in Heraklion, Greece in 1983. He suffered permanent spinal chord injuries after a traffic accident in 2007.[3]

Athletics career

Stefanoudakis at the 2012 Paralympic Games

Stefanoudakis took to para-sport after his accident as a way for improving his health.[3] He first tried our swimming, but a lack of facilities curtailed this option.[3] He took to athletics instead and by 2010 he was classified as a F54 athlete and was competing at meets.[3] Stefanoudakis represented Greece at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. There he competed in both the F54-56 Shot put and the F54/55/56 javelin throw, winning bronze in the latter with a distance of 27.37 metres.[3] As well as Paralympic success, Stefanoudakis has also won medals at both World and European Championships level. His most notable achievement in athletics outside the Paralympics was a gold medal in the T54 javelin at the 2015 Championships in Doha.[3]

References

1. "Stefanoudakis, Manolis". Paralympic.org. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
2. Manolis Stefanoudakis. rio2016.com
3. "Stefanoudakis, Manolis". IPC. Retrieved 3 September 2016.