Domnitsa Lanitou-Kavounidou (1919–2011): A pioneer of Greek and Cypriot athletics
On this day, we remember the life and legacy of Domnitsa Lanitou-Kavounidou – the first Greek woman to compete in the Olympic Games.
Born in Limassol in 1919, Domnitsa Lanitou-Kavounidou was the most distinguished female track and field athlete of the pre-war period, not only in Cyprus but also in Greece. She was the first Greek woman to take part in the Olympic Games, representing Greece in 1936 and again in 1948. She was the daughter of Nikolaos Lanitis, a Cypriot lawyer and member of the EOKA resistance, and Sappho Kolakidi. Her father, a passionate supporter of athletics and co-founder of the Limassol Gymnastic Club “Olympia”, encouraged Domnitsa and her sister Ismene to take up sport. It was at his urging that, in 1928, the Pan-Cyprian Games included two women’s events for the first time – the high jump and the long jump – in both of which Domnitsa excelled and took first place at a young age.
In 1931, she moved with her sister to Athens, where they studied at the American College for Girls. While pursuing her education, Domnitsa continued training and competing in athletics. In the Greek Women’s National Championships, she achieved first place in all seven events she entered, breaking national records in each – some of which stood for many years. In 1932, she became the first Greek woman to equal a world record in the standing long jump.
She quickly became a beloved figure in Athens, admired not only for her sporting achievements but also because her father was considered a hero after his arrest by the British. However, she also faced criticism – particularly for competing in short shorts, which were considered provocative at the time. Despite the controversy, her athletic performance outshone public disapproval.
Undeterred by scepticism, young Domnitsa competed for Greece in the Balkan Games, where she stood out in the 100 metres and the 80-metre hurdles, setting Balkan records. These performances earned her a place as the first Greek woman in the Olympic team. Under the guidance of her coach Otto Simtsek, she prepared for the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. There, she competed in the 80-metre hurdles, reaching the semi-finals, and also in the 100 metres, where she was eliminated in the heats. On her return from Berlin, she took part in a relay event in Volos, running as the team’s fourth member – a role often reserved for male athletes – reflecting the growing respect and acceptance she had earned among her male peers.
Following the Olympics, Domnitsa enrolled at Panteion University to study Political Science. During the Second World War, she volunteered as a nurse. In 1941, she married Kostas Kavounidis and they had one son. In 1948, encouraged by her husband, she returned to Olympic competition in the London Games – the first post-war Olympics – as the only woman in the Greek team of thirteen. She led the national team in the opening parade and competed in the 80-metre hurdles, where she was eliminated in the preliminary round.
At the age of 36, in 1950, she retired from professional athletics but remained active in the sporting world. She served as Secretary and later President of the Hellenic Amateur Athletic Association’s (SEGAS) Women’s Technical Committee. In parallel, she pursued a career in journalism. Her social engagement extended beyond sport. She was a member of the League for Women’s Rights and the Association of Greek Women Scientists, served as Vice President of the Union of Cypriots in Greece, and was involved in the Cyprus Self-Determination Society.
Her commitment to public service led her into politics; in 1958, she stood as a candidate for the Liberal Party in Athens’ First Constituency.
Domnitsa’s career served as a source of inspiration to leading intellectuals of her time, including poets such as Kostis Palamas, Angelos Sikelianos, Nikos Kavvadias, and P. Paleologos. In an era when sport was dominated by men, she demonstrated that women could not only compete but also thrive and lead in the field of athletics. She remains one of the most iconic figures in the history of Greek classical sport.
Domnitsa Lanitou-Kavounidou passed away on 20 June 2011, at the age of 97. For her contributions, she was honoured by the International Olympic Academy, by SEGAS, and by various institutions in both Greece and Cyprus.
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Translated from: BPW Cyprus
