Cyprus continues to reinforce its presence on the international athletics stage, with seven elite track and field athletes selected for the prestigious Olympic Scholarships for Athletes Los Angeles 2028 programme. The approval was granted by the International Olympic Committee following a proposal by the Cyprus Olympic Committee.
The programme, funded through Olympic Solidarity, aims to support athletes in their preparation for Olympic qualification, offering targeted financial assistance and access to high-level sporting resources.
In total, scholarships amounting to USD 320,000 will be awarded to 24 Cypriot athletes across different sports. This support comes in addition to scholarships provided through the cooperation of the Cyprus Olympic Committee with the A.G. Leventis Foundation, sponsorships secured via official partners, and other Olympic Solidarity initiatives.
A strategic investment in Olympic preparation
According to the Cyprus Olympic Committee, the Olympic Scholarships for Athletes programme is designed to ensure optimal preparation conditions for athletes pursuing qualification for the Olympic Games. The initiative plays a key role in long-term athlete development and international competitiveness.
Elena Kulichenko: World class presence in the high jump
Elena Kulichenko, competing in the high jump, holds the Cyprus national record for women and U23 with a clearance of 1.97m. As of 30 September 2025, she ranks 11th in the world and 8th in Europe.
Her career highlights include seventh place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, ninth at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, and seventh at the 2025 World Indoor Championships in Nanjing. She was European U23 champion in Espoo in 2023 and a three-time NCAA champion in the United States. Kulichenko has also claimed silver and bronze medals at the World University Games.
Olivia Fotopoulou: Speed and consistency on the global stage
Olivia Fotopoulou holds the Cyprus national record in the 100m with a time of 11.25 seconds, while her 200m personal best of 22.65 is the second fastest in national history.
She reached the semi-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and competed in the semi-finals of the World Championships in 2023 and 2025. Her most notable achievement is the silver medal at the 2023 European Games in Krakow. She also won three medals at the Mediterranean Games in Oran in 2022 and has multiple podium finishes at Balkan Championships.
Filippa Fotopoulou: A stable force in the long jump
Long jumper Filippa Fotopoulou has a personal best of 6.79m, achieved in 2022. In 2025, she ranks 38th globally and 17th in Europe.
She has competed in two European Championship finals, finishing 12th in Munich in 2022 and 11th in Rome in 2024. She was eighth at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and has collected six medals at Balkan Championships, along with a silver medal at the 2025 Balkan Indoor Championships.
Valentina Savva: A rising star in the hammer throw
Valentina Savva is widely regarded as one of the most promising talents in women’s hammer throw. In 2025, she broke the 70m barrier, setting a new Cyprus national record for women and U23 with a throw of 70.22m.
She currently ranks 42nd worldwide and 20th in Europe. Her achievements include silver at the World U20 Championships in Lima in 2024 and bronze at the European U23 Championships in Bergen in 2025. She is a former European champion at U20 and U18 level and has been a consistent medalist at Balkan Championships over the past three years.
Styliana Ioannidou: International medals in the high jump
High jumper Styliana Ioannidou recorded a personal best of 1.91m in 2025, placing her 47th in the world and 30th in Europe.
Her most significant achievement is the bronze medal at the World U20 Championships in Nairobi in 2021. She also finished fourth at the European U23 Championships in Bergen and fourth at the 2025 World University Games in Bochum.
Iosif Kesidis: A dominant figure in youth hammer throwing
Iosif Kesidis holds the Cyprus U23 national record in the hammer throw with a distance of 74.87m. He is ranked 56th globally and 36th in Europe.
As a junior athlete, he is considered among the world’s best. His accolades include gold medals at the World U20 Championships in Lima in 2024 and the European U23 Championships in Bergen in 2025, as well as multiple European titles at U20 and U18 level. He also won the European Throwing Cup U23, hosted in Nicosia in 2025.
Petros Michaelidis: Emerging talent in the shot put
Shot putter Petros Michaelidis recorded a personal best of 19.28m in 2025. Despite his young age, he is regarded as a genuine talent, currently ranked 99th worldwide and 43rd in Europe.
He won bronze at the 2024 Small States Athletics Championships in Gibraltar and finished eighth at the Balkan Championships in Smyrna in the same year.
Pride and partnerships on the road to Los Angeles
The Cyprus Olympic Committee expressed its pride in the inclusion of these athletes in the IOC scholarship programme, highlighting the importance of structured support on the journey to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The Committee also extended its thanks to Logicom and Eurobank, Platinum Partners, and Petrolina, Gold Partner, for their continued and constructive support of Cypriot sport.