Greek swimmer Anna Ntountounaki celebrated her second gold medal at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games, saying she feels proud and fulfilled after changing the way she approaches competition and life outside the pool.
Speaking after another successful race in Italy, Ntountounaki said she knew she would feel tired but wanted to give her best.
“I’m very happy. I wanted to win the race,” she said. “I knew I would have some fatigue. I didn’t know how fast I would be able to go, but I wanted to do my best.”
The Greek swimmer said she was delighted to return to the podium and complete her races in the way she wanted.
“I’m happy that I managed to do it. I’m happy to be on the podium again. I think I completed my races in the best possible way, and I’m very happy about that,” she said.
Ntountounaki also revealed that she still has another race ahead of her and plans to take some time to recover before returning to competition.
A different approach to competition
Before travelling to Italy, Ntountounaki had said she wanted to go to the Mediterranean Games simply to enjoy the experience.
She explained that her approach reflects a broader change in how she views her career.
“As you get older, it becomes quite difficult to remain continuously in a competitive environment for a long period,” she said.
For Ntountounaki, moving directly from the European Championships to the Mediterranean Games presented a significant challenge.
“The atmosphere here at the Mediterranean Games is certainly more relaxed. There is a better mood. It’s not as stressful as the European Championships,” she said.
She explained that major championships bring intense pressure to produce a specific time, progress through the rounds, reach the final and perform at the highest possible level.
“At the European Championships, there is the anxiety and pressure to achieve the time you want, to qualify for the next round, to reach the final and give the best you can,” she said.
By contrast, she arrived in Taranto having already achieved an important goal.
“I had already achieved my target. I had posted the 56. I had done everything I wanted,” Ntountounaki said.
That allowed her to focus on enjoying the competition.
“So yes, I came here with the goal of enjoying what I do and being able to enjoy the whole event,” she said.
Finding balance outside the pool
Ntountounaki said she has learned that enjoying competition depends heavily on finding happiness and fulfilment away from sport.
“I don’t think being able to enjoy your competitions comes from anything other than enjoying your everyday life outside competition,” she said.
She described the change as one of the biggest challenges she has faced in recent months.
“I’ve changed some things in my mindset. I try to enjoy every moment we have outside competition,” she said.
For the Greek swimmer, the things that make her happy away from the pool provide the motivation and emotional strength she needs to perform inside it.
“What fills my soul gives me the strength and the drive to be able to enjoy what I do in competition as well,” she said.
Ntountounaki acknowledged that the transformation did not come easily.
“For me, that was the biggest challenge. I’m extremely happy because I believe I’ve managed to achieve it over the last few months, with a lot of effort, many emotional ups and downs and many twists and turns,” she said.
“I feel complete”
Ntountounaki believes her change in mindset, combined with years of hard work and an intense period of preparation, played a decisive role in her recent success.
“I believe that this change in mindset and the way I see things was the key that allowed me to achieve my goals both at the European Championships and here,” she said.
She also stressed the amount of work that lies behind her performances.
“There is a huge amount of work and effort behind all of this. I overcame quite a few obstacles along the way,” she said.
Now, after achieving the goals she set for herself, Ntountounaki says she can finally take a moment to appreciate what she has accomplished.
“This is what makes me even happier and allows me at this moment to say that I have achieved what I wanted,” she said.
“I feel complete, and right now I’m thinking that I want to enjoy it and be able to move on.”
Ntountounaki’s second gold medal in Taranto adds another major achievement to an already distinguished international career, while her comments underline a significant shift in her approach to elite competition: less pressure, greater enjoyment and a stronger focus on life beyond the pool.
