Emmanouil Karalis

1. Early Life and Background

Emmanouil Karalis was born on October 20, 1999, in Athens, Greece. He is the son of a Greek father, who hails from Pyrgos, and a Ugandan mother, reflecting a diverse heritage that enriches his personal story. He has a twin sister named Angeliki. Karalis stands at 6.1 ft ^{(1.86 m)} tall and weighs 176 lb ^{(80 kg)}.

2. Athletics Career

Emmanouil Karalis's athletics career began in his youth, quickly progressing through junior and senior ranks to establish himself as a leading pole vaulter. His career has been guided by several coaches, including Andreas Tsonis, Panagiotis Simeonidis, Vitaly Petrov, Charalambos Karalis, and Marcin Szczepański.

2.1. Junior Career and Youth Competitions

Karalis started his international career in youth and junior competitions, demonstrating early promise. In 2015, he earned a bronze medal at the World Youth Championships held in Cali, Colombia, achieving a vault of 17 ft ^{(5.2 m)}. The following year, in 2016, he secured a gold medal at the European Youth Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, with a performance of 18 ft ^{(5.45 m)}. He also participated in the World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, where he finished in 4th place, clearing 18 ft ^{(5.4 m)}. In 2017, at the European U20 Championships in Grosseto, Italy, he recorded no mark (NM).

2.2. Senior Career and Major Competitions

Karalis transitioned to senior athletics, competing in numerous major championships. In 2017, he placed 11th at the European Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, with a vault of 18 ft ^{(5.5 m)}, and 17th (q) at the World Championships in London, United Kingdom, clearing 18 ft ^{(5.45 m)}. The 2018 World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, United Kingdom, saw him finish 5th with a mark of 19 ft ^{(5.8 m)}.

In 2019, he competed at the European Indoor Championships in Glasgow, United Kingdom, where he finished 4th with 19 ft ^{(5.65 m)}, and the World Championships in Doha, Qatar, placing 15th (q) with 18 ft ^{(5.6 m)}. A significant moment in his career came at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, where he achieved a personal best of 19 ft ^{(5.8 m)} and finished in a commendable 4th place.

His participation continued with the World Championships in Eugene, United States, where he placed 22nd (q) with 18 ft ^{(5.5 m)}, and the European Championships in Munich, Germany, finishing 13th (q) with 18 ft ^{(5.5 m)}. In 2023, he secured a silver medal at the European Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, clearing 19 ft ^{(5.8 m)}, and another silver at the European Team Championships, Division 1 in Chorzow, Poland, also with 19 ft ^{(5.8 m)}. He recorded no mark (NM) at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

The year 2024 proved to be highly successful for Karalis. He won a bronze medal at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, United Kingdom, with a season best of 19 ft ^{(5.85 m)}. He then claimed a silver medal at the European Athletics Championships in Rome, Italy, setting a new personal best of 19 ft ^{(5.87 m)}. The pinnacle of his 2024 season was earning a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, with a vault of 19 ft ^{(5.9 m)}.

2.3. Personal Bests and National Records

Emmanouil Karalis holds the current Greek national record in pole vaulting for both indoor and outdoor disciplines. His personal best in outdoor pole vaulting is 20 ft ^{(6 m)}, achieved in Silesia in 2024. For indoor pole vaulting, his personal best stands at 20 ft ^{(6.02 m)}, set in Clermont-Ferrand in 2025.

2015 World Youth Championships (Cali, Colombia):** Bronze medal (17 ft ^{(5.2 m)})
2016 European Youth Championships (Tbilisi, Georgia):** Gold medal (18 ft ^{(5.45 m)})
2019 European Athletics U23 Championships (Gävle, Sweden):** Silver medal (18 ft ^{(5.6 m)})
2021 European Athletics U23 Championships (Tallinn, Estonia):** Silver medal (19 ft ^{(5.65 m)})

3.2. Senior International Honours

His progression into senior competitions has yielded an impressive collection of medals and notable placings:

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Mark
Representing Greece
2015	World Youth Championships	Cali, Colombia	3rd	17 ft ^{(5.2 m)}
2016	European Youth Championships	Tbilisi, Georgia	1st	18 ft ^{(5.45 m)}
2016	World U20 Championships	Bydgoszcz, Poland	4th	18 ft ^{(5.4 m)}
2017	European Indoor Championships	Belgrade, Serbia	11th	18 ft ^{(5.5 m)}
	European U20 Championships	Grosseto, Italy	-	NM
	World Championships	London, United Kingdom	17th (q)	18 ft ^{(5.45 m)}
2018	World Indoor Championships	Birmingham, United Kingdom	5th	19 ft ^{(5.8 m)}
2019	European Indoor Championships	Glasgow, United Kingdom	4th	19 ft ^{(5.65 m)}
	European U23 Championships	Gävle, Sweden	2nd	18 ft ^{(5.6 m)}
	World Championships	Doha, Qatar	15th (q)	18 ft ^{(5.6 m)}
2021	European U23 Championships	Tallinn, Estonia	2nd	19 ft ^{(5.65 m)}
2021	Olympic Games	Tokyo, Japan	4th	19 ft ^{(5.8 m)}
2022	World Championships	Eugene, United States	22nd (q)	18 ft ^{(5.5 m)}
2022	European Championships	Munich, Germany	13th (q)	18 ft ^{(5.5 m)}
2023	European Indoor Championships	Istanbul, Turkey	2nd	19 ft ^{(5.8 m)}
	European Team Championships, Division 1	Chorzow, Poland	2nd	19 ft ^{(5.8 m)}
	World Championships	Budapest, Hungary	-	NM
2024	World Indoor Championships	Glasgow, United Kingdom	3rd	19 ft ^{(5.85 m)}
	European Championships	Rome, Italy	2nd	19 ft ^{(5.87 m)}
	Olympic Games	Paris, France	3rd	19 ft ^{(5.9 m)}

1. Early Life and Background

2. Athletics Career

2.1. Junior Career and Youth Competitions

2.2. Senior Career and Major Competitions

2.3. Personal Bests and National Records

2.4. Club Affiliation

3. Honours and Medals

3.1. Junior and U23 Honours

3.2. Senior International Honours