Manolos Karalis shared his first post on social media following his recent triumph at the European Athletics Championships, where he secured the silver medal in pole vault with an impressive jump of 5.87 meters. Surprisingly, it wasn’t a moment from his poised clearance or his celebration on the podium that he chose to spotlight. Instead, he opted for two snapshots alongside his Swedish counterpart and Rome champion, Armand Duplantis.

Known affectionately as Manolos among his fans, Emmanuel Karalis demonstrated a preference for healthy competition over self-promotion, showcasing the virtue of sportsmanship by highlighting the acknowledged brilliance of his counterpart. This seemingly minor detail reveals his worldview and competitive philosophy at the age of 24.

Emmanuel displayed a similarly heartfelt sentiment during the celebration of his friend and fellow athlete Miltos Tentoglou, whom he first encountered during the World Championships in Colombia just days prior, where Tentoglou triumphed in the long jump finals with a spectacular 8.65-meter leap, narrowly missing the national record by a mere centimeter. Manolos joyously celebrated Tentoglou’s achievement in the stands of the Olimpico in Rome with an infectious smile that underscored his genuine happiness for his friend’s success.

At 24 years old, Manolos and his 26-year-old friend Miltos embody the most captivating figures in Greek athletics today, cherished not only for their achievements but for their influence and impact. Whether they’re engaging fans on Instagram and YouTube, surpassing their benchmarks, or challenging entrenched stereotypes of impassive athletic heroes, their journey is captivating.

Just two years ago, in August 2022, Manolos bravely shared via Instagram his need to step back from championship events to prioritize his mental health and well-being. This decision, while unexpected from the fourth-place Olympian of the Tokyo 2021 Games, shed light on his struggle with panic attacks, anxiety, and depression—issues he confronted head-on, challenging the perception of champions as invulnerable superheroes. His candid revelation sparked important conversations about the psychological resilience of athletes.

From his early introduction to athletics at the age of 12, influenced by his parents—his father, a decathlon champion and coach, and his mother, a long jump athlete originally from Uganda—Manolos found his calling in pole vaulting. Despite the pressures and challenges he faced, both in sports and in his personal life, Karalis never shied away from his vulnerabilities, making his journey not just a story of athletic prowess but also of resilience and authenticity.

Racism

But silence was never an option for him. Nor is apologizing for simply being who he is. In May 2019, Karalis took action by filing a complaint with SEGAS against national coach Dimitris Kyteas. He accused Kyteas of repeatedly subjecting him to racist behavior and using derogatory terms towards his family. Two years earlier, Sara Karalis had also lodged a complaint against Kyteas while he was coaching Kostas Filippidis. According to Karalis and his mother, Kyteas prevented other athletes from taking photos with Manolos because, as he argued, they would be exposing themselves. Kyteas even went so far as to spread rumors that Karalis practiced voodoo against opponents and fellow athletes, referring to him not by name but as “the black one.”

Kyteas’ delusional racist behavior was corroborated by statements from three athletes and an additional witness. Despite this, SEGAS’ disciplinary committee handed down what was described as a lenient penalty, suspending Kyteas from coaching for just one year.

Miltos’ Persistence

2019 marked a turning point for Tentoglou as well. Feeling close to burnout after securing his first European gold medals—indoors in Glasgow in ’19 and outdoors in Berlin the previous year—Tentoglou contemplated quitting. Yet true to his nature, he defied the odds and persevered. He recounted this pivotal moment to his friend and fellow athlete Manolos Karalis in a video shared during their stay in the Olympic Village in Tokyo in the summer of 2021, amidst pandemic restrictions.

Known for his stubbornness and occasional hot-headedness, Tentoglou often finds himself thriving under pressure. While he claims to be naturally laid-back, his drive to excel motivates him to push harder and strive for greatness. Despite his impressive record—three European, one world, and one Olympic gold medal—his attitude remains one of grounded realism rather than arrogance.

His journey into the elite ranks began with coach Vangelis Papanikos spotting his talent during a parkour session in Greveni in 2013 when Tentoglou was just 15 years old. His breakthrough came at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin in August 2018, where he clinched gold with an 8.25-meter leap. Since then, under the guidance of Giorgos Pomaski, Tentoglou’s star has continued to rise.

Beyond his athletic achievements, what sets Tentoglou apart is his unassuming demeanor and candid expression, never one to sugarcoat his thoughts or seek the spotlight unnecessarily. He prefers to remain low-key, cultivating an image of a reluctant yet highly sought-after star.

The symbiotic relationship between Tentoglou and Karalis extends beyond their shared dedication to training, meetings, and sporting events. They bond over mutual interests: chess matches, a shared love for Japanese culture (Karalis adored Pokémon as a child, while Tentoglou embraces all things Japanese), video games, and musical talents—Karalis on guitar and Tentoglou on bouzouki. Their parallel lives will converge once more in Paris in about a month’s time.

As two of the four Greek athletes already qualified for the Olympic Games—the others being Antigoni Drisbiotis in the 20 km walk and Katerina Stefanidis in pole vaulting—Tentoglou and Karalis approach their second Olympic appearance with renewed vigor, under normal conditions this time, free from the constraints of social distancing. Before that, they will shine in two signature events that highlight their status as stars in their sport.