Antonis Aresti () is a former athlete and Paralympian from Cyprus who competed mainly in category T46 and T47 sprint events.

He competed in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. There he won a silver medal in the men's 200 metres – T46 event and a silver medal in the men's 400 metres – T46 event

Career

Born on 15 February 1983 in Limassol, Cyprus by Leonidas and Androula Aresti. At the age of three years, Aresti was dragged by a moving car while he was trying to cross the street. The accident caused a damage on his left hand. Such disability pushed the Cypriot sprinter to deal with sports.

He started practising athletics at early age by participating in school events mainly in long-distance races. At age 14 he started running seriously. Then, he won many medals in local youth championships in athletics. Also, he participated in world organisations as a member of the national team of Cyprus.

He studied Physical Education at National Sports Academy (NSA) of Bulgaria in Sofia and graduated in 2008. His coach is Efthymios Kyprianou.

World and European Championships

Aresti's first big worldwide success occurred during his participation at the Athletics World Championship for athletes with disabilities in Assen, Netherlands in 2006, where he won the bronze medal in the men's 400 meters category T46. The second worldwide success of the Cypriot runner, occurred in 2007 during his participation at the Athletics World Championships organised by the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) in Taipei, Taiwan where he won the silver medal in the men's 200 meters category T46.

In January 2011, Aresti participated in the Athletics World Championship for athletes with disabilities in Christchurch of New Zealand. He won two gold medals at the finals of the events: Men's 200 meters category T46 and Men's 400 meters category T46 with times of 22.25 seconds and 49.44 seconds respectively.

Additionally, the Cypriot champion athlete conquered three more medals in the 2012 European Championships organised by the International Paralympic Committee in June 2012 in Stadskanaal. Specifically, he won the gold medal in men's 400 meters category T46 with a time of 50.55 seconds, the gold in the men's 200 meters category T46 with a time of 22.58 seconds and a silver medal in men's 100 meters category T46 with a time of 11.36 seconds.

After three years of absence from the land of the track due to injuries, Aresti returns to world athletic events in 2015. In June 2015, Aresti participated in the Hellenic Championship for Disabled Athletes and secured the limit for his participation in the Athletics World Championship for athletes with disabilities organized in Doha, Qatar in October 2015 by the International Paralympic Committee in category T47.

In June 2016, the Cypriot champion athlete participated in 2016 European Championships organised by the International Paralympic Committee in Grosseto, Italy. Aresti won his 4th medal in European level.

CompetitionVenuePositionMedalEventTime2006 IPC Athletics World Championships Assen, Netherlands3rdBronze 400m T4650.24 2007 IWAS Athletics World Championship Taipei, Taiwan2ndSilver 200m T462011 IPC Athletics World Championships Christchurch, New Zealand1stGold 200m Τ4622.25 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships Christchurch, New Zealand1stGold 400m T4649.44 2012 IPC Athletics European Championships Stadskanaal, Netherlands1stGold 400m T4650.55 2012 IPC Athletics European Championships Stadskanaal, Netherlands1stGold 200m T4622.58 2012 IPC Athletics European Championships Stadskanaal, Netherlands2ndSilver 100m T4611.36 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships Doha, Qatar 7th400 m Τ4750.55 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships Doha, Qatar 6th200 m Τ4722.72 2016 IPC Athletics European Championships Grosseto, Italy 2ndSilver 400 m Τ4750.44 2016 IPC Athletics European Championships Grosseto, Italy 4th200 m Τ4723.20 2016 IPC Athletics European Championships Grosseto, Italy 5th100 m Τ4711.75

Participation in Paralympic Games

Aresti participated at the 13th Summer Paralympic Games held in Beijing in September 2008. His participation was a great moment for both his career and the history of Cypriot sport since he managed to win two silver medals in the Men's 200m T46 and Men's 400m T46 with times of 22.15 seconds and 48.87 seconds respectively.

During the 14th Summer Paralympic Games held in London in 2012, the Cypriot sprinter participated and finished fourth in the finals of men's 200m category T46 and men's 400m category T46 with times 22.40 seconds and 49.59 seconds respectively. Also, he participated in the men's 100m race category T46 with time 11.36 but did not qualify for the final race of the event.

Aresti secured participation in the 15th Summer Paralympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro in September 2016.

CompetitionVenuePositionMedalEventTime2008 Summer Paralympics Beijing, China2ndBronze 200m T4622.152008 Summer Paralympics Beijing, China2ndBronze 400m T4648.872012 Summer Paralympics London, United Kingdom4th200m T4622.40 RR2012 Summer Paralympics London, United Kingdom4th400m T4649.59 SB2012 Summer Paralympics London, United Kingdomnq100m T4611.36

Personal Bests

DateCompetitionEventVenueTimeJuly 30, 2011Stoke Mandeville Disability Athletics Challenge100m T46 Stoke Μandeville, United Kingdom11.08 Athletics Pancyprian Championship200m T46 Nicosia, Cyprus22.01Athletics Bulgarian Championship400m T46 Sofia, Bulgaria48.51

Other Participation

YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventTime2009International Athletics Meeting Thessaloniki, Greece8th200 m22.69 http://www.sigmalive.com/simerini/sport+time/cyprus/161800 2010International Athletics Meeting Thessaloniki, Greece5th400 m48.71yearInternational Athletics Meeting city, Italy1st200 m T4622.60yearInternational Athletics Meeting city, Italy1st400 m T4649.502011Stoke Mandeville Disability Athletics Challenge Stoke Μandeville, United Kingdom100 m T4611.08 PB2011Stoke Mandeville Disability Athletics Challenge Stoke Μandeville, United Kingdom200 m T4622.70

References

External links