During a special event held at the lounge of the Piraeus Sailing Club, Rio bronze medallists Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis presented their newly-built race dinghy, which was then christened according to maritime tradition. “Anatoli” is the name of the successful crew’s new 470 racing dinghy, which will accompany the Greek champions on their new Olympic quest – the 2020 Games in Tokyo, Japan.
During the unveiling ceremony, canoe/kayak champion Lina Tserga did the honors of christening the racing boat, pouring Moët & Chandon, the iconic champagne of success, over the bow and wishing the crew fair winds in their efforts.
LOYAL TO ITS LONG HISTORY AS A HOUSE THAT SUPPORTS ATHLETIC IDEALS AND SAVOIR-FAIRE, MOËT & CHANDON CONTINUES TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE IN THE FASCINATING WORLD OF SAILING, PERFECTLY MIRRORING THE SPORT’S BOLD AND MODERN SPIRIT, ALONG WITH AN EVERLASTING DEVOTION TO CONSTANT SUCCESS.
Panagiotis Mantis said: “We are delighted to share these moments with our friends and partners who honored us with their presence. The unveiling of ‘Anatoli’ officially marks the beginning of our new Olympic venture and reflects our desire to once more stand on the podium in the ultimate sports event. It also stands as a significant reminder of our long, long way ahead.”
Pavlos Kagialis said: “We wanted to come up with a name resonating with the Olympic Ideal, our goal, and our destination; we consider ‘Anatoli’ [Greek for both ‘East’ and ‘sunrise’] a good metaphor at all levels, which reflects our perspective. At the same time, it conveys optimism, which is quite important in this day and age.”
“Anatoli” was made to order by a German manufacturer. All the systems attached to the racing boat were installed according to the specifications and requirements set by the crew, and the utmost attention to detail was paid to make the boat sail-worthy. The next steps in the design process will be made in Japan next September. In a dedicated training session, athletes will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the specific site where the sailing races will take place and design special sails for the event.
During an in-depth interview, both members of the crew spoke about their racing schedule, as well as this year’s greatest goal – ensuring Greece’s participation in the Olympic Games – before sharing personal experiences and defining moments from their past that shaped them into the athletes they are today. The medallists made special mention of the constant support they receive from their sponsors, who fully share their love of the sea, sense of discipline, and tenacity for success.