Thirty-two years have passed today since Voula Patoulidou won the gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games. On this day in 1992, Voula Patoulidou etched her name in history by claiming the gold medal in the 100 meters hurdles at the Olympic Games in Barcelona. This triumph marked a significant milestone for the Greek delegation, as it was their first gold medal since 1912, carrying a double historical significance as the first gold won by a Greek female athlete.
A few days after Pyrros Dimas’ triumph in Barcelona, and with a desire to gather energy and luck, Voula Patoulidou stood on the starting line with an unwavering determination. In the final, she displayed remarkable speed and agility, crossing the finish line in an astounding 12.64 seconds.
No one had expected Patoulidou to emerge victorious in Barcelona, but her performance proved that she was destined for greatness. Many attributed her triumph to the fall of American athlete Devers at the last hurdle.
In the semifinal, Patoulidou shattered her national record with a time of 12.88 and secured her place in the final. There, she defied all expectations, claiming the gold with an astonishing performance.
“I just entered the race, happy to be in the final,” Patoulidou recalled. “The only thing I thought and said was, for Greece, damn it, I will run, for no one else.”
The second place in the final went to American Lavonna Martin, while Bulgarian Yordanka Donkova secured third place. The legendary Ludmila Norozilenko, a former Soviet athlete, was unfortunately forced to withdraw from the final due to injury.
Patoulidou’s participation in the Barcelona Olympic Games was one of five appearances (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004) at the most prestigious sporting event in the world.