Greek shooting champion Anna Korakaki and her husband Giannis Chalkiadakis have baptized their daughter, giving her the name Athina.
The Olympic athlete shared pictures from the ceremony on social media while describing her emotional feelings about the milestone day.
Writing on her official Instagram account, Korakaki expressed her wish for their child to grow up with health, light, joy, and love, surrounded by people who truly care for her. She noted that her daughter's baptism marks the beginning of a life filled with beautiful moments and stories.
Emotional Message on Instagram
In a dedicated social media post, Korakaki wrote that the day marked the moment when Athina's name took its place among countless wishes, smiles, and loved ones. She described it as one of those occasions that a parent wishes to hold onto a bit longer, cherishing the hugs, the light, family members, and every small detail that made the ceremony special.
Korakaki added that if she and her husband pray for anything in Athina's life, it is for her to be robustly healthy, to possess light and joy in her soul, and to share love and solidarity. She expressed her hope that her daughter will always do good and meet people along her path who will love her genuinely.
The Olympic champion emphasized that she and Chalkiadakis look forward to watching their daughter take all her beautiful steps one by one. She wrote that the baptism was only the beginning of a life full of Athina's own stories, promising that both parents will be present to watch those stories unfold.
Motherhood Timeline and Background
Korakaki gave birth to her daughter on February 8, 2026, when she shared another emotional message and photographs announcing the arrival of her child. Shortly after, on February 23, 2026, she published a photograph with her newborn daughter celebrating Carnival.
On August 9, 2026, marking ten years since her gold medal victory at the Olympic Games, Korakaki reflected on her personal legacy. She stated at the time that she wants her daughter to grow up being proud of her not as a celebrated athlete, but as a person.
Korakaki gained international prominence at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she won a gold medal in the 25-metre pistol event and a bronze medal in the 10-metre air pistol competition. Her victory made her the first Greek woman to win two Olympic medals in the same Olympic Games, cementing her position as one of Greece's most distinguished sports figures.
In Greek Orthodox tradition, infant baptism is a major religious sacrament and family milestone. During the ceremony, the child is formally named and anointed, followed by gatherings where relatives and friends offer formal blessings for health and happiness.
