Spyridon Gianniotis

Spyridon "Spyros" Gianniotis (Greek: Σπυρίδων "Σπύρος" Γιαννιώτης; born 19 February 1980) is a Greek competitive swimmer who specialises in long-distance and open-water freestyle events. He is an Olympic silver medalist, two-time World Champion, World Cup gold medalist, and two-time European Champion.[1] A five-time Olympian, Gianniotis has won a total of 15 medals in major international long-course competition, totalling 5 gold, 5 silver, and 5 bronze spanning the Olympics, the World Championships, the World Cup and the European Championships. In 2011 he won the World Open Water Swimmer of the Year award, becoming the first and only Greek swimmer to earn that distinction.

Spyridon Gianniotis
Personal information
Full nameSpyridon Gianniotis
Nickname(s)Spyros
National team Greece
Born (1980-02-19) 19 February 1980
Liverpool, England
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight72 kg (159 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesOpen water, freestyle
ClubOlympiacos

He won the silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio at the 10 km marathon swim. Initially, Gianniotis was given as the gold medalist as he appeared to cross the finish line first, but the Dutchman Ferry Weertman touched the timing pad before him. After 15 minutes of deliberations by the judges and the use of photo finish, Weertman was awarded the gold medal and Gianniotis the silver, despite the fact that both were credited with the same time: 1 hour, 52 minutes, 59.8 seconds (1:52:59.8). Gianniotis won the silver medal at the age of 36, being the oldest competitor in the event.

Career

He won three individual medals at the 2005 Mediterranean Games. He has represented Greece at five consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 2000. In 2011 he became world champion in the 10 km open water at the world championships in Shanghai. Gianniotis also claimed gold at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona in the men's 10 km open water swimming.

At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens Gianniotis took the 5th place in the 1500 m freestyle and the 7th place at 400 m freestyle. At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, he was 4th at the 10 km marathon swim, missing the bronze medal by 5 seconds.

References
  1. Spyros Gianniotis – Medals and Honours, Hellenic Swimming Federation official website
Awards
Preceded by
Maarten van der Weijden
Valerio Cleri		 World Open Water Swimmer of the Year
2011 (with Thomas Lurz)		 Succeeded by
Valerio Cleri
Oussama Mellouli
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