Evangelos Marinakis has rewarded Greece's national water polo stars with a €200,000 ($215,000) bonus after their outstanding achievements at the World Championships in Singapore.
The Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos and Rio Ave owner will divide the donation equally between the two squads.
Greece's women, crowned world champions after an impressive tournament run, will receive €100,000 ($108,000). Their male counterparts, who clinched a hard-fought bronze medal, will also receive €100,000 ($108,000).
Both sums will be distributed among athletes, coaches and backroom staff in recognition of the collective effort required to reach the podium.
Confirmation came during a dinner hosted by Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) president Isidoros Kouvelos, who invited players and officials to celebrate their success.
Kouvelos praised the teams for raising the profile of Greek sport on the world stage and described their medals as a source of national pride.
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"I spoke with Mr Marinakis and encouraged him to grant a bonus as a reward, since the HOC itself cannot provide such prizes," Kouvelos said.
"He gladly agreed, offering €100,000 ($108,000) to each national team, because we believe the men’s bronze medal is worth as much as gold."
Several prominent figures from the sport attended, including women's team coach Haris Pavlidis, captain Eleftheria Plevritou and a number of her team-mates.
On the men's side, senior staff and representatives from the Hellenic Swimming Federation (HSF) were present, with president Kyriakos Giannopoulos offering thanks for Marinakis' generosity and hospitality.
Marinakis has been president of Olympiacos since 2010 and took control of Nottingham Forest in 2017, overseeing their return to the Premier League in 2022.
Known for investing heavily in football, he has also developed a reputation in Greece as a patron of sport more broadly.
His latest gesture reinforces that image, ensuring water polo athletes are financially rewarded and properly recognised ahead of their next challenge: preparing for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
At a time when funding remains a challenge for many Olympic disciplines, Marinakis’s generous decision to step in has been hailed as a timely boost. It provides both practical support and symbolic recognition for teams that delivered historic success for Greece.
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