Greek athlete Emmanouil Karalis won the bronze medal in the pole vault competition at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
With a jump of 5.85 meters, he came third behind Sweden’s Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis who successfully defended his world indoor pole vault title with a best clearance of 6.05m, while American Sam Kendricks secured silver with a best performance of 5.90m.
The Greek champion cleared 5.85 meters on his first attempt, bettering his own personal best for the year (5.72 meters) and guaranteeing himself a place on the podium.
To άλμα στα ουράνια του Εμμανουήλ Καραλή που του έδωσε το 🥉 μετάλλιο στο Παγκόσμιο Πρωτάθλημα κλειστού στίβου με 5.85!
📺 @ertofficial_ #Karalis #WorldIndoorChamps #Glascow2024 #roadtoparis2024 pic.twitter.com/Wc4p4y8W2G— Ηellenic Olympic Committee (@HellenicOlympic) March 3, 2024
He entered the competition at 5.50 meters and, after an initial failed attempt, passed on jumping 5.65 meters. He then successfully cleared both 5.65 meters on his second attempt and 5.75 meters on his first attempt.
It was his first medal in a world championship.
Πανευτυχής ο Εμμανουήλ Καραλής για την τρίτη θέση στο Παγκόσμιο Πρωτάθλημα κλειστού στίβου της Γλασκώβης κρατά με καμάρι το 🥉 μετάλλιο pic.twitter.com/I6XeJBm2cc
— Ηellenic Olympic Committee (@HellenicOlympic) March 3, 2024
Emmanouil Karalis gets strength from the Greek flag and his mother
Emmanouil Karalis was overjoyed after winning the bronze medal and spoke of the strength that the Greek flag gives him.
He talked about how he felt after his first two invalid attempts and referred to his mother, who always stands by his side, and the scream she let out as soon as he won the bronze medal.
“I don’t know, I haven’t realized it yet, I came as a runner-up, I didn’t have ambitions, I wanted a personal achievement, but whenever I wear the national team shirt I do well. Everything is going well,” he initially said.
“Congratulations to the entire team and to our coach who has managed to make this team a family. Everyone has given their best in the run-up to the open. I have no words. I didn’t believe in myself coming here either. Only my mother believed, so I dedicate the medal to her. So, when a mother believes in her son, it’s a big deal,” Karalis added.
When asked if his mother’s voice was heard at some point, he replied: “Yes, the first medal in a World event is very important. So, she supported me with everything.”
Karalis is the son of a Greek father from Pyrgos, Peloponnese and a Ugandan mother. Last year he won silver for Greece at the European Indoor Championships that took place in Istanbul.
He also won the silver medal at the 2019 and 2021 European Athletics U23 Championships and placed fourth at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
His achievement comes one day after his close friend Miltiadis Tentoglou retained his long jump crown with 8.22 meters.
The 26-year-old Greek athlete won the gold medal after a nail-biting battle with Italy’s Mattia Furlani.
Tentoglou, the reigning Olympic and world outdoor and indoor champion, and the 19-year-old Furlani both leaped 8.22 meters on their opening jumps. The tiebreak went to Tentoglou as his second-best effort was better than Furlani’s.
Carey McLeod of Jamaica won bronze with 8.21 meters.