Panagiotis Antoniadis was given a second shot at life through a liver transplant, and, at the age of 73, he seized it to break a world record in race walking. The Greek septuagenarian is a vibrant symbol of resilience and hope.
Last August, at the World Transplant Games in Dresden, an event hosting over three thousand athletes from fifty-one nations, Antoniadis demolished the world record for the five kilometer race walk in the 70-79 age category for transplanted athletes. His new record time of 36:44.13 eclipsed the previous best of 37:22.
“I felt immense joy and a deep sense of vindication for all the effort over the years,” Antoniadis shared with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA). “The transplant transformed my life. I realized I could achieve once-off-limits things, and that gave me extraordinary strength.”
Panagiotis Antoniadis: From crisis to competition
Antoniadis’ path to athletic glory was arduous. He spent years battling an autoimmune disease that led to liver cirrhosis. Following a successful liver transplant in 2007, he recounts feeling like he was “granted a second chance at life.” Recovery, however, was demanding, as immunosuppressive drugs meant “even a simple cold was dangerous.”
Four years later, everything changed when he decided to pursue table tennis with a transplant athletes’ club. “That’s where I won my first awards and discovered my endurance,” he recalls. He began training routinely at a local outdoor gym, which was adjacent to a track and field team’s practice area. This proximity sparked a serious dedication to race walking, which “became a cherished habit.”
“I quickly reached a 33-minute time for the five kilometers, which pushed me to compete internationally,” Antoniadis explains. He was named the best athlete at the 2024 European Championship in Lisbon, and in 2025, he cemented his legacy with the global record.
A message of hope and gratitude
For Antoniadis, his accomplishments carry a greater purpose: “We are the most powerful advocates for organ donors. We demonstrate what people who receive a second chance can achieve.” He proudly continues to compete in non-transplant veteran races, driven by the desire to “be a good example for my granddaughter, whom I care for daily.”
Antoniadis offers a moving message to those awaiting transplants: “Have patience, great patience. It is worth the struggle, and the moment will come when a transplant completely changes your life.”
Panagiotis Antoniadis’ journey is more than just a sports victory; it is a profound testament to the power of the human spirit. When the body gets a second chance, the soul can truly set its own record.
Related: Greece’s Organ Transplant Program Achieves Record-Breaking Growth
