Some victories are measured in points and times; others carry the weight of a personal history. The two gold medals won by Anna Maria and Eirini Marina Alexandri at the European Championships in Paris, in the technical and free duet of artistic swimming, belong firmly to the second category. Their sister Vasiliki, competing in the solo events, finished fifth in the technical and seventh in the free programme, a result shaped by a serious knee injury and a bout of tonsillitis that disrupted her preparation.
The three sisters, born in Greece, spent 14 years living and training in Austria, where they built an impressive international career. But the desire to compete for their home country never faded. "We always had a deep desire inside us to compete for Greece," says Eirini Marina. That wish finally became reality when they decided to return to Greece, a move they describe as both difficult and natural.
Leaving home at 14
The sisters' journey began when they were just 14, moving to Austria without knowing the language and far from their family. "We didn't speak the language. We had to go to school to continue our studies there. It was very difficult because we left on our own," recalls Vasiliki. The three leaned on each other for support. "What saved us, I would say, was that we had one another; we were together," she adds.
Adaptation was slow. Vasiliki remembers how hard it was to be apart from her sisters even when they were in the next room. "I missed them terribly. It was very difficult to be away from the girls," she explains. In Austria, they learned resilience and discipline, with artistic swimming becoming the centre of their lives. After obtaining citizenship, they claimed major titles, establishing themselves among Europe's best.
Why they came back
The decision to return was not impulsive. "We left because of a lack of meritocracy, as we have stated in the past," says Eirini Marina. But by the time the opportunity arose, things had changed. "Now things have completely changed. The leadership is new. All these people believed in us, supported us, and I think that is what every athlete wants."
The sisters thank the president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Isidoros Kouvelos, the president of the Hellenic Swimming Federation, Kyriakos Giannopoulos, and team manager Despina Karampela for their support. "It was a very difficult decision but also a very easy one. We took it unanimously, straight away. We said, we're all three going," says Vasiliki.
Anna Maria adds: "We really wanted to come back here. Our whole family is here, our home, our friends." After 14 years, the homecoming marked the start of a new chapter.
Preparing for Paris
The transition came with practical challenges. "We moved, we brought 200 boxes to Greece," remembers Anna Maria. The sisters had only five months of training before the Europeans, while most rivals had a full season behind them. "We had five months of training, which is very little if you think that all the other countries have 12 months of training," explains Vasiliki.
For Vasiliki, the build-up was even tougher. A serious knee injury kept her out of the water at a critical time, and tonsillitis struck just before the championships. In Paris, she missed her target of two medals. "Of course I wanted two medals; it didn't happen. I was very upset," she admits. "But I don't feel any guilt because, since I gave 100%, I couldn't have done anything more."
The sisters are now looking ahead. Their return to Greece is not just about medals; it is about building a new life in their homeland. As they settle in, they are already planning for future competitions, with the next major events on the horizon. Their story is a reminder that for many athletes, representing one's country is a dream that never dies.
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