Greek taekwondo fighter Alexandros Nikolaidis, a two-time Olympic silver medalist, died on Thursday at the age of 42, after a two-year battle with a rare type of cancer called carcinoma.
Nikolaidis, who is considered one of the biggest stars in his homeland, left an emotional message published yesterday (Friday) on his social networks, detailing his fight against the disease.
"I also suffered from cancer. For two years I never said 'why me?'" he wrote.
"There is no more selfish thought than when it happens to someone near us, our neighbor, our shepherd. And it happens to many now. I will tell you even now that I was a lucky person. I had the privilege to fulfill my dreams, to be on the world stage many times, to respect my sport and my country".
He continued: "I'll start with this cliché... I probably left for a better place or nowhere. For two years I suffered from cancer. With such a rare type of the terrorist, carcinoma, that right now nine out of ten Greek doctors are probably hearing about it for the first time and will rush to pick up their eyes."
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— Αλέξανδρος Νικολαΐδης (@AlexandrosNik) October 14, 2022
As mentioned, Nikolaidis won the silver medals twice, at the Olympic Games in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, when in the same year he was selected as athlete of the year.
He also managed to qualify for the Olympic Games in London 2012, when he also carried the Greek flag at the opening ceremony.
Besides his Olympic record, Nikolaidis won gold at the 1996 World Championships and claimed three European titles in 1996, 1997 and 2008.
Nicolaidis retired from sports in 2014 and served as the deputy speaker of one of the Greek political parties.
He left behind a wife and two children.
His last wish was that his two Olympic silver medals be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to a children's charity.
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