Nassos Gavelas made history in Paris as well.
The Greek track and field champion, who has vision impairments, clinched the gold medal in the 100m (T11) at the Paris Paralympics, three years after winning gold in Tokyo!
He finished the race in 11.02 seconds, achieving a back-to-back victory.
He is now the only Greek athlete to have won two consecutive gold medals at the Paralympic Games.
Who is Nassos Gavelas?
Athanasios, or Nassos Gavelas, was born in Athens on December 19, 1999, and from a young age, he dreamed of becoming an athlete.
He tried various sports (tennis, basketball, football) but was ultimately drawn to track and sprinting.
At just 10 years old, Nassos Gavelas was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, a genetic condition that gradually impaired his vision. He noted that the disease became apparent when he was in the 4th grade. His teacher, with a clear and strong voice, would ask him to read aloud so the entire class could hear, but eventually, he began to struggle and syllabicate, which made it clear that something was wrong. Following this, he faced bullying from many classmates until he finished school, but his friends and family were there to support him.
Aside from athletics, he also loved football, but his vision difficulties made it challenging for him to coordinate with other players. One day, he ran a 100-meter race at the Baroutadiko stadium in Aigaleo, where a coach encouraged him to take the sport seriously.
Young Nassos didn’t give up after facing his vision problems and continued to pursue his passion—running and winning medals. In 2021, he secured the gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics with a new world record of 10.82 seconds. In 2024, at the Paris Paralympics, he defended his title by winning another gold in the 100m (T11).
In addition to being a remarkable athlete, Nassos Gavelas is also a scientist. In 2023, he graduated from the Department of Psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
The athlete, who often says the phrase “Close your eyes and follow your heart,” began his journey to the top in 2017 when he competed in the World Para Athletics Championships in London.
The athlete, who often says the phrase “Close your eyes and follow your heart,” began his journey to the top in 2017 when he competed in the World Para Athletics Championships in London.
In 2019, at the World Championships in Dubai, Nassos Gavelas finished 8th in the 100m. He then transitioned to the T11 category, competing with a guide. In Tokyo 2021, his guide was Sotiris Garagkanis, and in Paris 2024, it was Yiannis Nyfantopoulos.
His successes continued in the new category. In June 2021, he won the gold medal at the European Championships in Bydgoszcz and set a new European record in the 100m with a time of 10.98 seconds. In 2023, at the World Championships in Paris, he secured another gold medal with a championship record.
Nassos supports Panathinaikos.
