Filothei Women Gala: Where the Elite of Track and Field Shine at Filothei Stadium
The Filothei Women Gala returns for its 26th consecutive year on Tuesday, June 10th, at Filothei Stadium- a place where some of the world’s top female track and field athletes have left their mark over the years. More than just a sporting event, the Filothei Women Gala is a vibrant celebration of Greek athletics, an institution that bridges the past, present, and future of the sport, honoring all the outstanding women who have distinguished themselves. Since its inception in 2000 as a pioneering competition exclusively for women, it has welcomed the very best athletes who have made history, as well as those continuing to do so today.
At Filothei Stadium, athletes who have earned medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships have competed. Their presence here is no coincidence; it is the natural continuation of a tradition that honors the spirit of Greek female athletes.
Names like Niki Bakogianni, Olympic silver medalist in high jump; Katerina Stefanidi, Olympic gold medalist in pole vault who took her first steps to greatness on this very track and Niki Xanthou, World Championships silver medalist in long jump, are just a few of the leading figures who have left an indelible legacy at Filothei. Their dedication continues to inspire younger generations.
From sprints to jumps, Filothei has seen the likes of Maria Karastamati, Katerina Koffa, and Georgia Kokloni in sprint events, as well as Voula Papachristou, who has become a symbol of triple jump in Greece with her European Championship gold medal.
The list of international champions who have graced Filothei is equally impressive. Russian Tatiana Kotova, Olympic bronze medalist and the Gala’s long jump record holder; Portuguese Naide Gomes, World Indoor Champion in long jump; Bulgarian Svetla Dimitrova, World Championships silver medalist in 100m hurdles; Venelina Veneva, medalist at World and European Championships in high jump; Ukrainian Vita Styopina and Russian Anna Chicherova, both Olympic gold medalists in high jump; Bulgarian Tereza Marinova, Olympic gold medalist in triple jump; Cameroonian Francoise Mbango, two-time Olympic gold medalist in triple jump; and Tatiana Lebedeva, Russian legend with Olympic and World medals in triple jump and long jump.
In sprinting events, Nigerian Mercy Nku and Jamaican Ennis Deloreen have stood out, while in pole vault, alongside Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi, have competed Russian Yelena Belyakova, German Nastja Ryjikh, and Greek record holder Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou.
This meeting is far more than a series of competitions; it is a bridge connecting generations. It is a stage where tradition meets evolution, where the dreams of the past become the reality of today’s champions.
