Cypriot athlete Marina Hadjicosta denounces racism following World U20 success

Seventeen-year-old Cypriot athlete Marina Hadjicosta, a bronze medalist in the discus throw at the World U20 Championships in Oregon, recently shared a personal social media post denouncing the racist comments she faced following her athletic achievements. Born in Limassol on February 8, 2009, and adopted at birth by Simoni Papaleontiou Hadjicosta and Savvas Hadjicosta, she highlighted her pride in representing Cyprus despite her Polish and Nigerian biological heritage. The athlete emphasized that her identity is defined by her humanity and results rather than her ethnicity.

Hadjicosta, who is also a European U18 gold medalist, attended the 3rd Primary School in Limassol and later the Laniteio Athletic school. Her message has received significant support from the Cyprus Amateur Athletics Federation (KOEAS), which condemned racism and discrimination in sports. In her statement, she addressed incidents of abuse targeting herself and other athletes like Milan Trajkovic, urging the state and relevant authorities to take decisive action against bigotry. The athlete confirmed she will continue to represent Cyprus with pride as she enters her final year of secondary education.