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Greece gets two medals in Paralympics

Kathimerini - Tuesday 9th of September 2008

Greek swimming champion Chara-lambos Taiganidis won silver

Greek swimmers gained the country's first two medals at the Paralympic Games yesterday, landing a silver and a bronze in Beijing.

First it was Giorgos Kapellakis who won the bronze medal in the 200-meters freestyle S2, his second Paralympic medal after also winning bronze in Athens four years ago.

Then Greece's flagbearer in Saturday's opening ceremony, Charalambos Taiganidis, finished second in the 100-meters butterfly S13 to win his fourth Paralympic medal. He had won two golds and a silver in Athens.

Taiganidis had actually been one of the favorites for gold, but he was beaten by Belarus's Dzmitry Salei who clocked a new world record. "I had wanted the gold medal. I believe I will do better in the other distance and particularly in the 100-meters backstroke, which is my favorite," said Taiganidis, who dedicated his first medal in Beijing to his 11-month-old daughter.

In contrast, Kapellakis said he was not expecting to win a medal. "Then I saw in the qualifying round that I was in good shape and I am now very happy," he added. Today, Taiganidis competes in the 400-meters freestyle S13, while 19 other Greek athletes will join the fray in various disciplines, including athletics.

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