Maria Papadopoulou (Greek: Μαρία Παπαδοπούλου; born September 8, 1980) is a Cypriot former swimmer who specialized in butterfly events.[1] She set a Cypriot record of 1:01.67 to earn a bronze medal in the 100 m butterfly at the 2001 Mediterranean Games in Tunis, Tunisia.

Maria Papadopoulou
Personal information
Full nameMaria Papadopoulou
National team Cyprus
Born (1980-09-08) 8 September 1980 (age 44)
Limassol, Cyprus
Height1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Weight53 kg (117 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesButterfly
College teamUniversity of Arizona (U.S.)
Medal record
Women's swimming
Representing Cyprus
Mediterranean Games
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Tunis 100 m butterfly

Papadopoulou made her first Cypriot team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where she competed in the women's 100 m butterfly, held on the first day of preliminaries. She broke a 1:02 barrier to top the third heat with a time of 1:01.64, but finished only in thirty-second place.[2][3]

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Papadopoulou qualified again for the women's 100 m butterfly by eclipsing a FINA B-standard entry time of 1:01.76.[4] She challenged seven other swimmers on the second heat, including five-time Olympian Mette Jacobsen of Denmark. She edged out Iceland's Kolbrún Yr Kristjánsdóttir to pick up a fourth spot by 0.32 of a second in 1:02.01. Papadopoulou failed to advance into the semifinals, as she placed twenty-ninth overall on the first day of preliminaries.[5][6]

Papadopoulou is a former member of the swimming team for Arizona Wildcats, and a graduate of management information systems at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.

References

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  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Maria Papadopoulou". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Sydney 2000: Swimming – Women's 100m Butterfly Heat 3" (PDF). Sydney 2000. LA84 Foundation. p. 224. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  3. ^ Newberry, Paul (16 September 2000). "Thompson anchors U.S. relay win; Thorpe wins 400 free". Canoe.ca. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "Swimming – Women's 100m Butterfly Startlist (Heat 2)" (PDF). Athens 2004. Omega Timing. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Women's 100m Butterfly Heat 2". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 14 August 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  6. ^ Thomas, Stephen (14 August 2004). "Women's 100 Butterfly Prelims: Petria Thomas Fastest Through to Semis – One Full Second Ahead of Inky". Swimming World Magazine. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
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