The only athlete to compete in the Winter Olympics from Cyprus is a junior at Bates College in Lewiston.
As the only member of the Cypriot team, Dinos Lefkaritis enjoyed the special privilege of carrying the nation’s flat into the opening ceremonies in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on Friday.
Lefkaritis, 22, is an engineering and economics major and the 12th Bates College Olympian. He will compete as an Alpine skier.
Cyprus is an island nation in the Mediterranean Sea but there is skiing there in the Troodoos Mountains. Lefkaritis has been skiing since age. 5, and is the top-rated skier in Cyprus.
In two seasons at Bates, Lefkaritis competed in only two carnivals and his best finish was 47th in giant slalom.
He will compete in two events in South Korea. The men’s giant slalom competition is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. on Feb. 18. The slalom is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. on Feb. 21.
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