Eugenia Constantinidou died at the age of 88, leaving behind a great athletic heritage, as she “served” for decades ping pong in Greece and especially in his team Olympic.
Having been a distinguished athlete with Olympiacos in the table tennis, Eugenia Constantinidou was also a coaching emblem of the club, with her death being announced with sadness by the Greek federation of table tennis.
EFEPA’s announcement
EFOEA It grieves the death of Eugenia Constantinidou. The woman, who was the living story of Olympiacos table tennis, passed away 19/03 of life yesterday at the age of 88. He identified with the sport and served it faithfully for more than half a century first as an athlete and then as a coach and supervisor of Olympiacos.
Vera Piraeus showed talents in sports and initially engaged in basketball and track in top clubs in the city. In basketball he became a champion, he was also distinguished at speeds and especially at 400 meters.
In the late 1950s he tried the table tennis at Olympiacos (which was then a few years of life in the women’s part) and was thrilled. She loved her so much that she left the other two sports at some point, in which she was distinguished.
The first successes came quickly, as in 1960 she became a Greek -won in the ordinary women behind her (her teammate and basketball) Lucia Skrivanou, who was unlimited. From 1963 to 1977 he won 8 bronze medals in the women of the Panhellenic Championship, while in 1973-1974 he got 2or Position in the individual Class B matches.
At a turning point in the mid -1960s, he took over as a proposal by then President Pefo Konstantinos Barbis, who had taken over the table tennis. Eugenia Constantinidou had now identified her life with table tennis and Olympiacos. Immediately in the Piraeus areas the effort to bring children to the department, the new start took place in Korydallos and gradually growth was growing.
There were also tables at the Olympic Amateur Club in Pasalimani, but over the years the racing section was doing training in Papastratio. Led by the deceased of the union, he recorded the leading Pan -Hellenic distinctions in the 1970s and 80s not only in men and women, but also at young people. In addition, the talented athletes and athletes who passed through her hands and reached the national teams were innumerable.
Constantinidou was athlete as an athlete in winning the First National Women’s Championship in the 1975-1976 season. When he didn’t have to have a racing presence and two years after Olympiacos B for a new title in 2or Women’s national category, they were there again.
She was a self -taught as an athlete, but in coaching she constantly wanted to increase her knowledge and in years difficult to attend seminars at every opportunity. It was characterized by tranquility, courtesy and unstoppable mood for offering, but especially its relationship with athletes and athletes was unique. She was constantly close to them, she was willing to help with any problem, even for years known that many of the children had her as their second mother. Along the way, he took over as the Supervisor of the Olympics, he was active until the 2010s and always fought to strengthen the image of the club.
Her invaluable contribution, in general in the sport, was recognized by everyone, she has even received awards, among other things, by Amateur Olympiacos, Olympic Football Associations and in the EFEPA Development Championship in Renti in 2015.
Eugenia Constantinidou’s funeral will take place next week, but no more information has yet been disclosed. The administration of EFEPA bids farewell to an important form of the sport with deep sadness and expresses its heartfelt condolences to its relatives.