Vergotis Foundation: Congratulations to Harry Alivizatos for new Panhellenic Record and distinction

A significant success for Kefalonian sports is the new Panhellenic Record and the international distinction of Harry Alivizatos, an athlete of the Kefalonian Gymnastics Association. The Georgiou & Mary Vergotis Foundation sent out a relevant press release, which we publish in its entirety.

Press Release

Congratulations to Harry Alivizatos

The Board of Directors (BoD) of the Georgiou & Mary Vergotis Foundation expresses its warm congratulations to Harry Alivizatos, his coach Nikos Metaxas and the Kefalonian Gymnastics Association (GE Kefallinias) which consistently and continuously introduces young people to classical athletics, and with their successes bring joy to all Kefalonians.

First and foremost, BRAVO to Harry for his excellent performance in the Panhellenic Indoor Track and Field Championship, with four new personal records in the same competition, his jump of 2.25m – a new Panhellenic indoor track and field U20 record that currently ranks him No. 2 in the world U20 rankings – and the silver medal in the Men's competitions, almost 4 months before he turns 18. We wish Harry continued success, far from injuries and hopefully a medal at the World U20 Championship in the summer!

We also congratulate coach Nikos Metaxas, jumps coach of GE Kefallinias, who has substantially contributed to Harry's successes. Firstly, he realized and convinced Harry that by focusing on High Jump he would achieve significant successes. On this occasion, congratulations also to the entire core coaching team of GE Kefallinias, which includes Dionysis Metaxas (throws) and Vassilis Metaxas (sprints). It is no coincidence that GE Kefallinias consistently produces female and male athletes with successes in regional and Panhellenic championships in the categories they compete in.

We note with particular satisfaction that the financial assistance that the Georgiou & Mary Vergotis Foundation has consistently provided to the Youth Academies of GE Kefallinias from 2017 until today steadily increases the ranking of the sports club and has brought it to the 48th position among approximately 350 track and field clubs in our country and at the same time makes the best possible use of the donation of the national benefactor and founder of the Foundation, Georgios Ch. Vergotis – using the "Andreas Vergotis" stadium as a training ground and headquarters.

Many of our compatriots probably do not know that the Argostoli Municipal Stadium "Andreas Vergotis" is a donation of Georgios Ch. Vergotis to his birthplace. He fully funded the design and construction of the stadium, which was built in a marshy area of Koutavos, on deposits from the debris of Argostoli from the 1953 earthquakes. The naming was done in honor of his brother Andreas, who passed away in 1953 (not from the earthquake). The "VERGOTEIA" athletic games were organized for the first time by the local authorities in September 1958 – a practical thank you – to inaugurate the stadium. Since then, they have been established as a great annual athletic celebration in the Ionian islands and western Greece. They were successfully revived in 2015 by GE Kefallinias.

On this occasion, we congratulate the Municipality of Argostoli and its technical services, as well as the Regional Unit of Kefallinia, who persistently managed to overcome the problems in the contract for the installation of a new WA Mondo Sportflex 720 rubber track. The replacement of the new rubber track and the installation of this specific product not only prevents injuries, but will utilize a stadium of unique beauty, and will allow GE Kefallinias to organize not only the best "VERGOTEIA" to date, but a World Athletics meeting that will be discussed internationally and will highlight a different aspect and potential of Kefalonia in "sports tourism".

Congratulations again to Harry for his great success and distinction, and we wish an ideal scenario: on May 16, at "VERGOTEIA 2026" to set another new personal record so that we have the opportunity to admire him and congratulate him in person.

For the BoD

Gerasimos N. Vergotis

President