Domnitsa Lanitou-Kavounidou

Domnitsa Lanitou-Kavounidou was a Cypriot athlete who became the first woman to represent Greece in track and field at the Olympics. Lanitou-Kavounidou was born in Lemesos, Cyprus in 1914. Her father was Nikolaos Lanitis, an early vice-president of the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS). Lanitou-Kavounidou became interested in sports at a young age. At the age of 14 she won the 60 metres sprint at the Pan Cypriot Games. After moving to Athina in 1931 Lanitou-Kavounidou enrolled at the American College of Greece. She became the Greek champion in several sprint and hurdle events and set multiple Panhellenic records. In 1935 Lanitou-Kavounidou joined the national athletics team. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics Lanitou-Kavounidou competed in both the 100 metres and 80 metres hurdles, reaching the semi-finals in the hurdles.

During World War II Lanitou-Kavounidou served as a volunteer nurse and later became a member of the board of directors of SEGAS. After World War II Lanitou-Kavounidou competed in the 80 metres hurdles at the 1948 London Olympics but finished in last place in her heat. Lanitou-Kavounidou retired from athletics in 1950 and went to work in journalism. She also served as a member of the Association for Women’s Rights and the Association of Greek Women Scientists and was the vice-president of the Greek Cypriot Union. In 1958 Lanitou-Kavounidou stood as a candidate for the Greek Liberal Party in Athina. She died in June 2011 at the age of 97. A street outside the stadium in her town of birth was named after her.

Personal Bests: 100 – 12.4 (1936); 80H – 12.2 (1936).