Is water polo our national sport? Based on our successes at both the club and national levels, it just might be.
Greece has won Champions League titles in men’s and women’s water polo and has also achieved major successes with the national teams.
Water polo is the only sport in the country with Olympic medals – both in men’s and women’s competitions. In 2004 in Athens, the women took silver, and the men did the same in 2021 in Tokyo.
Greece now has two gold medals in Women’s World Championships and four medals in the Men’s. These triumphs began in the 1990s and continue to this day.
The girls who won gold at the World Championship in Singapore grew up with youth national team successes, inspired by past generations that made history in major tournaments.
In Greece, water polo is a… family sport. If the father played polo, the son or daughter is likely to play too. In the Singapore squad, girls like Maria Patra, Dionysia Koureta, Stefania Santa, and Athina Giannopoulou come from polo families.
Here are the 15 women who made history in Singapore:
Ioanna Stamatopoulou
Born in Piraeus with roots in Ilia, Ioanna will one day tell her children about winning gold at the World Championship and being voted Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.
She starred in the knockout rounds, especially in the final.
She started at Ethnikos and moved early to Olympiacos, where she made history in Greece and Europe, forming a long-standing duo with Chrysoula Diamantopoulou.
Now 27, she plays for Alimos.
Eleftheria Plevritou
The captain. She’s won nearly everything—except for an Olympic medal, which she hopes to claim in Los Angeles.
A brilliant attacker with sharp game sense, despite being only 28. She moved to Piraeus from Thessaloniki as a teen with her family.
Her older sister Margarita was a former national team captain, and her younger sister Vasiliki is also a world champion.
She played for years at Olympiacos, dominating Greece and Europe, and recently moved to Ferencváros in Budapest.
She studied Shipping at Piraeus University and considers coach Haris Pavlidis a second father.
Fotini Triha
What can one say about Fotini Triha? Only 20 years old and already a world champion.
She was also the tournament’s top scorer with 25 goals.
She scored 6 goals against Hungary in the opener, 5 against both Croatia and France—unstoppable.
She transferred from Nireas Chalandriou to Olympiacos and was coached by Olympic silver medalist Eftychia Karagianni.
She began playing in Marousi.
Stefania Santa
The apple didn’t fall far from the tree—daughter of Petre Santa, a legendary left-hander in Greek water polo.
Born in Romania, she has lived most of her life in Greece and proudly wears the blue and white.
Now 21, she plays for Olympiacos and is known for her powerful shot and playmaking skills.
Athina Giannopoulou
Daughter of Akis Giannopoulos, a goalkeeper for A.N.O. Glyfada’s historic team.
She helped Vouliagmeni win the Greek Championship and will play for Spain’s Sabadell next season.
She’s a scoring attacker, currently studying Business Administration, and speaks Spanish.
Her uncle is Kyriakos Giannopoulos, president of the Greek Swimming Federation.
Eleni Xenaki
A top-class center forward and left-hander—an invaluable combo in water polo.
Voted MVP of the final against Hungary.
Her mother, Mary Voulgari, also played polo at Ethnikos, but Eleni has long surpassed her.
A product of Vouliagmeni, she also played for Olympiacos and returned to N.O.V., with whom she won this year’s championship.
Eirini Ninou
A prolific scorer, started at Olympiacos and later played for Vouliagmeni, Glyfada, and Ethnikos.
She dreamed of being a polo player and studying architecture. At 16, she debuted in the World Championship in South Korea. Now, at 23, she’s a world champion.
She admires Giannis Antetokounmpo and reads Dan Brown religiously.
Maria Patra
Daughter of Vangelis Patras, a former star goalkeeper.
Unlike her father, she plays in defense and excels there.
She started at Panionios, spent years at Vouliagmeni, and now plays for Alimos.
Christina Siouti
A 21-year-old from Olympiacos’ youth system.
Began at Milon Neas Smyrnis, learned defense and goal-scoring early.
Plays with No. 7 at Olympiacos, No. 9 for Greece.
She played in the World Championship with a broken toe—an inspiring display.
She’s studying medicine.
Vasiliki Plevritou
The youngest of the Plevritou sisters.
The only one still playing for Olympiacos, she came from Thessaloniki as a little girl and became one of Europe’s best.
Known for her finesse shots and raw power.
On her sixth World Championship appearance, she finally reached the top.
She studies dentistry.
Sofia Tornarou
Another Olympiacos product who was trusted early by coach Haris Pavlidis.
Now 21, she also played for Ethnikos and Nireas Chalandriou.
Started as a center forward but now plays defense.
Maria Myriokefalitaki
Her powerful 6-meter goal against Australia secured Greece’s semifinal spot.
She cried after the goal, moving the entire nation.
At 24, she’s a dominant center forward from Rethymno, playing for Olympiacos.
Wins ejections, scores goals, defends hard, and follows coach Antonis Vlontakis’ every instruction.
Alexia-Eugenia Tzourka
The second goalkeeper of the national team.
She joined for the World Cup in China and won gold on Easter Day.
Plays for Ethnikos, 28 years old. This was her World Championship debut.
She celebrated her birthday (July 23) with a gold medal—what better gift?
Dionysia Koureta
A rising talent from Patras, daughter of former NOP and Olympiacos player Michalis Koureta, now a referee.
Her uncle is Thessaly governor Dimitris Koureta.
A center forward, she plays for Olympiacos.
This was her first World Championship, and she’s also played for NE Patras and Glyfada.
Nefeli Krassa
The youngest player on the team, born in January 2008—still not 17.
Coach Haris Pavlidis included her in the squad for the first time in a World Championship, and she’s proven her potential with the youth national teams.
Now, she’s a world champion.
She plays for Nautical Club of Vouliagmeni.
These 15 remarkable athletes brought glory to Greece—each with a unique story, yet all bound by talent, resilience, and the love of the game.
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