Apostolos Christou expressed his disappointment after the conclusion of the 100m backstroke final at the Paris Olympics. The 27-year-old Greek swimmer highlighted that the medal was lost by just two-hundredths of a second, emphasizing that making one step further compared to the past means nothing to him.

He also stated that he is not satisfied with the fourth place as he had only one goal in mind, winning a medal.

Here are his detailed statements:

“I lost an Olympic medal by two hundredths of a second; nothing else matters to me. Nothing else satisfies me because I knew I would be in the final; I wanted the medal. I didn’t get the medal; I made one step further than I had in the past, but that means nothing to me. Whether I’m fourth or eighth, it doesn’t concern me at all.

I enjoyed the race more than yesterday; I was very competitive, but I lost the medal. That’s what remains—the bitterness, the two hundredths that deprived me of the medal. It’s impossible not to be disappointed; I have dedicated my entire life to a swimming pool.

This is what I live for, what feeds and empowers me, so it’s natural to be saddened. In the end, I had nothing left; I was already starting to lose strength and had nothing more to give. Now, I don’t even know if I will swim in the 200m; I will probably swim in the relay.

I wanted to make that extra step; getting into the final means nothing to me. The next Olympic Games are very far away; I need a break now.”

Earlier, he had said in front of the ERT camera: “I was saddened because it was so close. I knew that the medal would be decided among us four. It’s a shame, I was so close. I didn’t have the strength to finish stronger; I couldn’t do anything more. The fourth place is not enough for me. The Olympic Games are in four years; who knows what will happen by Los Angeles.”