By Maria Spiliopoulou
DRAMA, Greece, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Greek shooter Anna Korakaki received a hero' s welcome returning to Greece from Rio de Janeiro on Thursday with two Olympic medals in her luggage.
"Vindicated" is the word the 20-year-old athlete stressed speaking to Xinhua outside her home in the city of Drama in northern Greece, while dozens of people were cheering waving Greek national flags.
Korakaki won gold and bronze in the 25-meter pistol and 10-meter air pistol. She is the first Greek to win two medals in the same Olympics since 1912. She is the first Greek athlete winning a gold since the 2004 Athens Games.
"The golden girl" as Greek media refer to since Tuesday has become a symbol of Greek people - in particular younger generations- who are struggling in the years of austerity in adverse conditions and still pull out miracles.
Korakaki trained -along with other 300 athletes - in a makeshift shooting range that was knocked down this week by local authorities as "unacceptable" . The municipality of Drama has pledged to set up new modern facilities for the Olympic champion and the youth who will follow in her footsteps.
The jubilant athlete celebrated on Thursday her historic victory with her family, friends, neighbors and fellow citizens who welcomed her with music, dancing and wishes to "win 100 medals."
Her mother Fotini and her brother Dionysis, also a shooter, "crowned" her and her father and coach Tassos Korakakis with an olive wreath (kotinos in ancient Greek), the prize for winners in the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece.
Greek officials rolled red carpets when she landed at the Athens airport in a stopover on her way to northern Greece. The University of Macedonia where she is studying was illuminated in her honor.
"I did not expect such a great welcome. I was almost certain my beloved would have organized something special, but to be honest I did not expect something so big. I feel very happy and I am touched," she told Xinhua on the sidelines of the celebrations in Drama, before dancing herself.
"It is vindication. It is a dream, a dream which came true," she said referring to the years of hard training and sacrifices.
The key to success was perseverance despite difficulties, she explained. Her father had to seek sponsors in Greece and abroad so that she can continue training, as state funding for sports has dwindled in recent years.
Shooting is not a popular sport in Greece and many Greeks did not know about her before the victory. Those who had seen her competing were certain that one day she will reach the top.
Today Anna has become an example. She wishes that after her achievement more children will get involved in sports and those who are athletes already keep aiming higher.
