A long-distance runner who carried a mobility-impaired biology student to the top of Mt. Olympus to fulfil her dream told Athens-Macedonian News Agency on Monday that "it was the best and most important struggle of my life, and the best thing I've done as a human being ever."
Marios Giannakos carried Eleftheria - a 22-year-old student from Drama - on his back and "when we got to the pinnacle, she asked me to help her see the view - so I turned her around in a complete circle so that she could see Greece from its highest point."
Giannakos carried Eleftheria in a specially-made backpack and climbed with an eight-member support crew. They reached a refuge at 2,400 m, where they spent the night before setting off at 06:00 on Monday for Mt Mytikas, Olympus' highest peak (2,918 m). They arrived around 09:02.
Giannakos said he had checked the route out two days ago before Tossiou arrived, and he thanked the support crew, which included police officers, deep diving specialists and trainer Dionyssis Petridis.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulated the two through an online chat with the endurance runner and the young woman, who is studying at the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, while they were still at a refuge on their way down.
"It was a fantastic idea, and we are very happy you implemented it," the premier said, wishing them a safe completion of their return.
Source: AMNA
