Newsroom
Cyprus celebrated a series of significant achievements at the European Para Powerlifting Championship and European Open, held in Tbilisi, Georgia from March 6-11, 2026, with Cypriot athletes delivering historic performances and bringing home multiple medals.
The standout performer of the Cypriot delegation was Paralympian Maria Markou, who made history by winning four bronze medals and setting two new Cyprus national records in the -73 kg category. Markou successfully lifted 103 kg, securing third place in the best lift event, while her 201 kg total also earned her third place overall.
Her achievement marks a landmark moment for Cypriot sport. Markou became the first athlete from Cyprus to win European Championship medals in Para Powerlifting, giving the country its first-ever European podium finishes in the discipline. Her performance also established new national records both in best lift (103 kg) and total (201 kg).
Cyprus also celebrated a historic milestone in the men’s competition through Andreas Charalambous, who became the first Cypriot man to win a European medal in Para Powerlifting. Competing in the -72 kg category, Charalambous delivered an excellent performance with three successful lifts of 143 kg, 147 kg and 149 kg. His efforts earned him two silver medals, finishing second in the total standings in both the European Championship and the European Open with a combined total of 439 kg. He also recorded the fifth-best overall performance among all athletes in his weight category across the competitions.
Another promising appearance came from Maria Manakou, who competed in the -79 kg category and was participating in her first European Championship. Representing Cyprus proudly in the national team uniform, Manakou placed fifth in the best lift with 82 kg and sixth overall with a total of 160 kg, confirming her steady progress on the international stage.
Meanwhile, Panagiotis Panagiotou finished 12th in the best lift with 125 kg and 15th overall with the same total. Competing in the Legend category, he also secured four bronze medals across the European Championship and European Open events.y
