Karolina Pelendritou

Karolina Pelendritou

Paralympic Medalist, Cyprus

Paralympics Games Gold Medal 100-metre breaststroke, Tokyo 2021 100-metre breaststroke, Beijing 2008 100-metre breaststroke, Athens 2004 Silver Medal 100-metre breaststroke, London 2012 Bronze Medal 50-metre freestyle, Tokyo 2021 200-metre individual medley, Beijing 2008 World Championships IBSA Swimming World Championship Gold medal in 100-metre breaststroke, Sao Paolo in 2007 Gold medal in 200-metre breaststroke, Sao Paolo in 2007 IPC Swimming World Championship Gold Medal 100-metre breaststroke, Mexico City in 2017 100-metre breaststroke, Glasgow in 2015 100-metre breaststroke, Montreal in 2013 100-metre breaststroke, Eindhoven in 2010 100-metre breaststroke, in a 25-metre swimming pool, Rio de Janeiro in 2009 Silver Medal 100-metre individual medley, in a 25-meter swimming pool, Rio de Janeiro in 2009 100-metre breaststroke, Mar De Plata in 2002 European Championships IPC Swimming European Championship Gold Medal 100-metre breaststroke, Eindhoven in 2014 100-metre breaststroke, Berlin in 2011 Silver Medal 100-metre breaststroke, Madeira in 2021 100-metre breaststroke, Dublin in 2018 Bronze Medal 100-metre breaststroke, Madeira in 2016 World Records Nineteen new World Records in 50-, 100- and 200-metre breaststroke in the IPC SB 11 and SB 12 categories 50-metre freestyle in the SB 11 category. Ambassador Ambassador of Cyprus “Youth on the Move” movement at the European Union Ambassador of Cyprus “Stop Discrimination” movement at the European Union Volunteering Ambassador of the Pan-Cyprian Volunteerism Coordinative Council Ambassador of Cyprus Tourism Organisation Ambassador of Road Safety for the Limassol Traffic Police Sports Ambassador of Cyprus in the “Be Active” European Week of Sport of the European Union Other Awards Awarded the Cyprus Highest Distinction by Cyprus Sports Writers from the President of the Cyprus Republic in 2022 – first time awarded to an active athlete. Honorary recognition from the President of the Cyprus Republic and President of the Cyprus Parliament for the achievements in Tokyo Paralympics 2021. Recognized by the France Presidency to represent Cyprus as part of the International Women’s Day in 2022. Top Athlete of the Year of the British Commonwealth in all IPC sports at the “Commonwealth Elite Athletes Awards 2007” (annual sports awards of the British Commonwealth) in Glasgow in 2008 Among the three Top Athletes of the Year of the British Commonwealth in all IPC sports at the “Commonwealth Elite Athletes Awards 2010” in Birmingham in 2010 Awarded as one of the top Men and Women Athletes of the European Union member-states in 2008 by the President of the French Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition by the US Congress in recognition of the gold medal of the 2004 Paralympic Games by the member of the US Congress Carolyn B. Maloney Fourteen times Top Athlete of Cyprus in Paralympic Games, awarded by the Cyprus Sports Journalists Union from 2005 to 2020 “Stelios Kyriakides 2003” Prize by the Cyprus Sports Journalists Union Three Awards of the Top Cypriot Athlete of the Year by the Hellenic Association of Sports Journalists (“PSAT”) in 2005, 2008 and 2011 Four times top “Woman-Athlete of the Year” in Cyprus at the “MADAME FIGARO” awards in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2012 Medal of “Moral Recognition, Distinction, Value and Honour of the Republic of Cyprus” by the President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias in 2009 Honorary Award by the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus for proudly representing Cyprus at the London 2012 Paralympic Games Gold medal of the town of Limassol (2004, 2008) Other Achievements Flagbearer of the Cyprus Team at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Paralympic Games (opening ceremony) and the Tokyo 2021 Paralympic Games (opening ceremony). The first living Cypriot who appeared on a post stamp in 2005 Representation on a phone card of the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority in 2004 The sport t-shirt which she wore at the ceremony of medal award at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games was sold for charity for 19,000 British pounds at the auction of the opening ceremony of the “Radiomarathonios” charity in 2004, which was held at the Gala Dinner at the London Hilton. The Face of the Campaign for the Children's rights day TV Appearances Participation as the main guest in television clips for charitable, national and social purposes in Cyprus and the European Union: “Youth on the Move” movement of the European Union Natura 2000 Protected Sites of Cyprus, “Akamas”, within the context of the European Union LIFE program Cyprus campaign to collect food in schools titled “Dinami Kyprion” Campaign against cyber-bullying by the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture Information campaign against social problems, “Food and Health” by the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, the Galastyle magazine and the teen newspaper “Click” “Be Active” European Week of Sport of the European Union Winner of the charity television show “DanSing for You 5” of the Cypriot channel MEGA to support the Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends (PASYKAF) Presentation of the 100 daily television shows “Antistrofi Metrisi, Beijing 2008” (i.e. “Countdown, Beijing 2008”) for the SIGMA channel Education Graduate in Journalism from the Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh with “Distinction” (Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Media Production (Journalism) with Distinction) Graduate of the “AKMI” Institute of Vocational Training in the specialisation of Sports Journalism Other Information Key speaker in conferences, presentations, actions, universities, schools about the subject of Sports, Education, Health and Diet, as well as Professional Success in Cyprus, Greece and abroad (Coca-Cola, Hilton, Intersport, Nielsen, Httpool, Columbia Ship Management Ltd etc.) Honorary candidate of the political party the “Democratic Rally” at the parliamentary elections of 2016 in Cyprus Participation in the charity “Fashion Show” for the Larnaca Social Market Key speaker and fellow companion in the charitable event “Walk with children for the children” in favour of the Centre of Preventive Medicine by the Cyprus Paediatric and Gynaecology Society and GlaxoSmithKline Numerous awards by Sports and other Institutions, Associations and Teams, Political Parties, Municipalities and Communities, Organisations and Clubs, Universities, Schools, Students and Parents, Businesses and Unions in Cyprus and Greece