University of Athens Rector Meets Gold Medallist Michailangelos Nikolou

Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, met Michailangelos Nikolou of the School of Medicine on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, following Nikolou’s gold-medal win in kickboxing at the European Universities Combat Sports Championships.

Professor Siasos congratulated Nikolou on his achievement, praising his commitment and determination in balancing the demands of medical school with competitive sport. His success is a source of pride for the University and a fine example of what young people can do when they pursue their interests and ambitions in different fields.

Professor Siasos said:

‘I would like to congratulate Michailangelos on this outstanding accomplishment, which fills us all with pride and joy. Winning a gold medal takes countless hours of hard work, discipline and dedication. To achieve this while studying medicine and pursuing a demanding sporting career makes his success all the more remarkable. Michailangelos is an inspiration to young people and to our students. His example shows that academic study and a passion for sport can go hand in hand, with perseverance, good organisation and determination making both possible. I wish him every success in his studies and sporting career, and, above all, good health and strength for the challenges ahead.’

Nikolou represented the University of Athens at the European Universities Combat Sports Championships, where the School of Medicine took part for the first time. With just one athlete competing, the University finished 11th out of 66 participating teams, thanks to Nikolou’s gold-medal performance.

This latest victory adds to an already distinguished sporting career. In 2018, Michailangelos became WAKO Junior World Champion in K1 in the 71 kg category. He has also won gold in Light Contact at the WAKO European Championships.