Meet Anna Korakaki - The dog-loving torchlighting trailblazer who went from Youth Olympic heartbreak to an historic Games shooting gold

Anna Korakaki holds a special place in Olympic history.

The pistol shooter became the first Greek athlete ever to win two medals at the same Games when she took home gold and bronze from Rio 2016.

But her name will forever be associated with an even more unique moment - becoming the first-ever woman to be the originating Olympic athlete torchbearer at an Olympic torch relay.

Korakaki is world number one in the women's 10m, but did you know that away from the range she loves music and dogs? And seems to have mastered fishing?

Read on for the key things to know about Korakaki, who competes at the 2022 European Championships 25/50m from 14 to 18 September in the Polish city of Wroclaw, a key event on the Road To Paris, as a direct Paris 2024 Qualifier with eight Olympic spots on offer.

The key sessions of the event are live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com (territorial restrictions apply).

From Youth Olympic agony to Olympic Champion and role model

Korakaki's first appearance at an Olympic event was the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in 2014.

But it wasn't a happy competition for the Greek shooter, who finished an agonising fourth.

“My disappointment in Nanjing was… I don’t have words to describe it," she told us years later, adding: "Even now, when I have won two Olympic medals in the ‘big’ Games, I still remember that feeling. It’s still fresh,”

But she was all smiles when popping in to the Nanjing2014 Photo Booth to record a video message.

Korakaki was comforted by an Athlete Role Model, rifle shooter Ivana Maksimovic of Serbia. "She came to me right after the final, when I was sad and almost burst into tears,” Korakaki later revealed. “She said, ‘Don’t worry, you’re such a big talent and you’re going to make it to the big Olympics, I am sure. Just believe it and work for it.’

Four years later, she herself became an Athlete Role Model, passing on her wisdom and encouragement for competitors at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympics.

By that point Korakaki had fulfilled Maksimovic's prediction, and become an Olympic champion.

Gold in Rio and a tattoo to celebrate

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was the place where the name Anna Korakaki became globally famous. 

It was at the Rio 2016 Games that she became Olympic champion in the 25m Pistol Women (SP) event - the first Greek shooter to win gold in 120 years. She also claimed bronze in the 10m Air Pistol Women (AP40) to ensure another record for an athlete from Greece.

Korakaki chose to get an Olympic tattoo and the year '2016' on her hand following her win, posting on social media that being tattooed "Didn't hurt as much as the four years of hard work did".

Torch lighting trailblazer

March 12th, 2020 was another historic date in Korakaki's life.

She was chosen to be the first torchbearer ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The athlete had a key role in the Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony, which took place in Ancient Olympia in her home nation, becoming the first female to start an Olympic Torch Relay, before passing the flame to MIZUKI Noguchi on the journey to Japan**.**

"It was a great honour for me, an unforgettable experience, a moment I will remember forever," Korakaki told us.

Flag bearer at Tokyo 2020 amid personal turmoil

Korakaki had also won the 2018 world title in the 10m Air Pistol (AP60W), and was chosen to carry her nation's flag into the stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Games in 2021.

The Greek star finished sixth in both her events. She and later revealed that she had been a victim of stalking, and that her performance and mental health had been affected over several years because of the individual, who she said had later been sentenced to five years in prison as a result.

A close family

Anna Korakaki was Born on 8th April 1996 in Thessaloniki, Greece.

It was hardly surprising that she chose to take up shooting, given that was the sport her father, Tassos Korakakis, excelled at.

Dad remains an inspiration for daughter to this day, combining the role of parent with that of Korakaki’s coach.

In addition to Olympic and world titles, he has helped inspire her to several world records, including scoring 588 out of a possible 600 in the ISSF World Cup in Changwon, South Korea, in July 2022.

She has, however, recorded a score of 594 in training.

A best friend and a love of dogs

In an instagram story Q&A a couple of years ago, Korakaki said that Serbian shooter Zorana Arunović was her best friend forever (BFF).

But there's someone else who is now vying for that place in Korakaki's heart - a dog, named 'beerapup'.

The animal-loving shooter has even created her 'furbaby' its own Instagram account.

Korakaki also lists 'listening to music, dancing, going to the beach' as her hobbies on the official ISSF website profile.

She's also clearly good at fishing, as her facebook post suggested (later adding: "I did not kill the fish, I did not eat it. Fish are back in the lake safe and sound.")

Now she's back trying to bag medals with Paris 2024 in her sights.

How to watch Anna Korakaki compete at the 2022 European Championships 25/50m and Olympic Qualifiers in rifle and pistol shooting

Action in the Paris 2024 Qualifier disciplines will be broadcast on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com (territorial restrictions apply).