Ramona Papaioannou

Personal Life and Background

Anna Ramona Papaïoánnou (; born April 1, 1982, in Cholargos, Greece) is a Greek, Cypriot, and Brazilian athlete who competes for Cyprus. She is the daughter of Pavlos Papaioannou, a former Brazilian-Greek footballer.

Career

Papaïoánnou is a sprint specialist. At the Small States of Europe Games, she has won multiple championships. Her record in the 100 m dash is 11 s 36, set at the 2015 European Team Championships in Stara Zagora. However, this time was not recognized as the Cyprus record due to a favorable wind (+2.3 m/s).

Achievements

- At the 2005 Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) in Andorra la Vella, Papaïoánnou won the bronze medal in the 400-meter race with a time of 58.10 s. - In 2007, she took fourth place at the GSSE in Monaco in 62.29 s over 400 m hurdles and won the gold medal with the Cypriot 4-by-400-meter relay (3:45.17 min). - At the Junior European Championships in Hengelo, she retired with a time of 63.52 s in the 400 m hurdles. - In 2009, Papaïoánnou won the silver medal in the 100-meter race behind Eleni Artymata at the GSSE in Nicosia (11.91 s) and also over 200 m she won in 24.65 s silver behind Artymata. - Additionally, she won the gold medal in the 4-by-100-meter relay with a time of 45.98 s.

International Competitions

Papaïoánnou has competed in several international events: - At the 2014 World Championships in Sopot, she took part in the 60 m dash and slid from the series to fourth place in her race (7 s 45). - In 2015, she set a new Cyprus record of 100m in 11s 25 at the National Championships. - At the 2016 European Championships in Amsterdam, Papaïoánnou was eliminated in the semifinal of the 100m and set a new national record with her compatriots (Eléni Artymatá, Olivia Fotopoulou, and Filippa Fotopoulou) in series. - At the 2015 European Team Championships in Stara Zagora, she brought her record in 100 m to 11 s 36.