With her pride as a Cypriot representing her country in international competitions, champion Marina Hatzikosta is standing up to the racism she faces on social media.
In a photo in which she proudly holds the Cypriot flag, Marina Hatzikosta speaks movingly about her homeland, her heritage, and the pride she feels every time she represents Cyprus at international events, while also sending a strong message against discrimination in sports.
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“My name is Marina Hatzikosta. I was born in Limassol on February 8, 2009. I was adopted at birth by my parents, Simoni Papaleontiou Hatzikosta and Savvas Hatzikosta. My biological mother was from Poland and my biological father was from Nigeria. I attended the 3rd Elementary School, then the Laniteio Athletic Junior High School, and now I am a student at the Laniteio Athletic High School, where I will be entering my junior year in September. My mother was a refugee from Famagusta, specifically from Varosi, where, after the coup, she came to Limassol, and my father is from Limassol, from the villages of Pachna and Akapnou.”
“I may not have ‘Cypriot blood’ running through my veins, but I am a proud Cypriot, and I have represented—and will continue to represent—my country with pride,” she notes.
“When I first heard our national anthem in Italy at the U18 European Championships—where I won the gold medal—I was moved to tears by the pride I felt. Now, at the U-20 World Championship, where I won the bronze medal, every moment of the match, I was thinking that I wanted to do my country proud.”
“Cyprus may be a small island with fewer than 1 million residents, but we are a very strong country that can compete with nations considered titans,” she continues.
And she calls on the relevant authorities to ensure that discrimination is put to an end.
“The racism I’ve faced in comments from various people following my successes is unacceptable—especially since other athletes, such as the great Milan Trajkovic, one of the best athletes to have played in Cyprus, with many international accolades, also face on a daily basis. This is an issue that the government and the relevant authorities must resolve so that we can all live in harmony, free from discrimination. Just how “Cypriot” I am is demonstrated by my results and my humanity. Good luck to the entire Cypriot delegation participating in the European Championships.”
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