Cyprus secures first gold medal at Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games

Cyprus is celebrating its first gold medal at the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy, after swimmer Kalia Antoniou triumphed in the 100m freestyle. Recording a time of 54.60 seconds, Antoniou defended the title she won four years ago in Oran, narrowly finishing 0.07 seconds ahead of Italian silver medalist Chiara Tarantino. This achievement marks a historic moment for the Cypriot mission, which continues to bolster its medal tally, currently featuring additional successes in shooting and canoeing.

Alongside the swimming triumph, Savvia Chatzicharalambous earned a silver medal in the individual K1 500m canoe/kayak event. In shooting, Constantia Nicolaou and Nikolas Vasiliou both secured bronze medals in their respective skeet competitions. Meanwhile, the Cypriot men’s national handball team marked a historical milestone by participating in the Mediterranean Games for the first time, despite an opening 33-24 defeat against Algeria. Other events, including road cycling and the 50m breaststroke, have seen varied results with athletes striving for final qualifications.

Looking ahead, the Cypriot delegation continues its campaign across various disciplines. Kalia Antoniou has already qualified for the 50m freestyle final, aiming for a second podium finish. The national team is currently holding the 11th position in the overall medal table, with further efforts in swimming, cycling, and other sports scheduled throughout the final days of the competition.