Pyrrhos Dimas: ‘I Held Both Hands on Buses So People Wouldn’t Fear Me’

The clock turned back during an interview given by Pyrrhos Dimas on Sunday afternoon (09.03.2025) on the show “Tet a Tet” with Taso Tryfonos on Cyprus Television. Dimas, who has raised Greece high as an Olympic gold medalist, recalled the days when he came from Albania to Greece and did not forget the racist behaviors he experienced. “Back then, in Nea Smyrni, I remember the first security gates started appearing. There weren’t any until then; we’re talking about 1991. I would enter a supermarket, everyone would turn around and say ‘watch out for this one, keep your eye on him.’ We were somewhat fresh arrivals, and it bothered me greatly. I remember getting on buses and holding both hands, not just one, so people wouldn’t worry about their pockets because everyone was looking at each other suspiciously, fearing I might steal their wallets,” described Dimas. Despite challenges, Dimas managed his journey to Greece from Albania, including smuggling his cat in his bag to avoid weight issues. He also recounted difficulties obtaining a passport to compete in Barcelona, emphasizing psychological struggles and bureaucratic hurdles before ultimately winning Olympic gold.