Kalia Antoniou wins double gold at the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto
Cypriot swimmer Kalia Antoniou achieved a historic performance at the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy, securing gold medals in both the 100m and 50m freestyle events. On August 24, she defended her 100m title from Oran 2022 with a time of 54.60 seconds, finishing ahead of Italy’s Chiara Tarantino. She followed this victory on August 25 by winning the 50m freestyle in 24.92 seconds, surpassing Italian competitors Elena Capretta and Agata Maria Ambler. This double success brings Cyprus' medal tally to six, including two gold, two silver, and two bronze medals.
The Mediterranean Games also featured other Cypriot performances, including silver in Canoe/Kayak for Savvia Chatzicharalambous and bronze medals in shooting for Constantia Nicolaou and Nikolas Vasiliou. In road cycling, the results were mixed; while the team competed in demanding races, Bogdan Zabelinski finished 4th in the men's event, just missing the podium. As the games continue, the Cypriot delegation is participating in additional disciplines, including archery, table tennis, rhythmic gymnastics, and shooting, with athletes looking to further improve the country's standing in the medal table.