Emmanouil Karalis was born to a Greek father and a Ugandan mother, and experienced racism growing up in Athens. He was told ‘black people don’t pole vault’ and seriously considered quitting the sport in which he was already proving to be world class. He explains what it was like being a young person of mixed heritage in Greece during a time when the far right ‘Golden Dawn’ party was enjoying it’s greatest period of influence.
It wasn’t ‘sunshine and rainbows’ he tells us during a ‘horrible’ time for non-white Greeks. When he reached the age of 18, he decided it was time to speak out about the racism and about his mental health. He says opening that door and taking that first step has helped those athletes who have come after him.
Emmanouil - known more familiarly as Manolo – has been winning global and continental medals since the age of 15. He’s had success all the way up through the age-groups and first competed against Mondo Duplantis when both were still just boys. Their rivalry and their friendship has continued to grow. Manolo explains why the Olympic Games is extra special for Greek athletes – because the country was the birth place of the Ancient Olympics. He shares his memories of being taken to watch the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens when he was just four years of age. It was later, watching the London 2012 Olympics on television, that he knew he wanted to be a part of it.
Coached by his father, who was a former decathlete, Manolo takes us back to the moment he beat his Dad’s personal best for the pole vault – a story you have to hear.
We also discuss Mondo Duplantis and how the world record holder makes Manolo a better pole vaulter. The Greek athlete is, at the time of recording this podcast, the fourth highest vaulter in history, with a best clearance of six metres and eight centimetres. Spending some time in his company it becomes very clear that won’t remain his personal best for very long.
Image: Emmanouil Karalis of Team Greece reacts during the Men's Pole Vault Final on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)