PARIS –  Theodoros Tselidis has won Greece’s first medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the country’s third ever in judo, on Wednesday. In the bronze medal match in the -90kg category Tselidis defeated Spain’s Tristani Mosakhlishvili.

Theodoros Tselidis in an interview with Athens-Macedonian News Agency shared his excitement over winning an Olympic medal, calling it “the best day of my life.” He described the achievement as “incredible” and expressed his joy at fulfilling his promise to bring a medal to Greece. “A crazy miracle happened,” he said.

Tselidis highlighted that the medal is a collective achievement. “You can’t achieve anything alone without proper support. The secret is in teamwork. Alexander (Danatsidis), Nikos (Iliadis) and everyone involved contributed to this success. This medal belongs to all of us, and I am truly happy.”

He also extended his gratitude to the Greek people who supported him, stating, “Thank you very much to all Greeks. Greece is the best nation. I’m happy to have had the opportunity to give something back.”

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulated bronze Olympic medalist Theodoros Tselidis.

“Theodoros Tselidis is a bronze Olympic medalist in the -90 kg category in judo, winning the first medal for our country at the Paris Olympic Games! Warm congratulations, Theodoros; we are all very proud!” Mitsotakis noted in a post on X.

President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, also expressed her warm congratulations to Theodoros Tselidis. Sakellaropoulou described it on X platform as “a victory that brings joy to all of us and makes us proud!”

Congratulatory messages were also sent by SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Stefanos Kasselakis and PASOK-KINAL leader Nikos Androulakis.