Anna Korakaki

Greek shooter Anna Korakaki made history when she became the first female torchbearer to start an Olympic Torch Relay in Ancient Olympia. The historic moment saw the Olympic gold medallist carry the Olympic flame first shortly after it was lit by the High Priestess to begin its journey to the next Olympics in Tokyo, and marks an important step for equality which Korakaki was immensely proud to be part of. Representing Greece at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games, Korakaki won the first gold medal for her country since Greece hosted the 2004 Olympic Games, clinching the gold in the 25m pistol and also winning a bronze medal in the 10m air pistol event.

Korakaki was born in Drama, Greece and began shooting competitively in 2009. A member of the Orion Shooting Club of Thessaloniki, she is coached by retired Greek shooter Tassos Korakakis and also by her father. Korakaki showed early promise as a junior, winning gold at the 2016 Junior World Cup in Suhl, and soon began to pick up medals at senior level including Gold and Silver at the 2016 World Cup in Bologna.

Korakaki was just 20 years old when she made her Olympic debut in Rio in 2016, and she became the first ever Greek woman to win two medals at the same Olympic Games and the first Greek athlete to do so since 1912, beating Germany’s Monica Karsch in the 25m fire pistol competition to take gold. Korakaki has already been chosen as the Greek flag bearer for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and is in a strong position to defend her Olympic title.