# Theodora Drakou

Theodora (Nora) Drakou (Greek: Θεοδώρα Δράκου) is a Greek competitive swimmer, competing for Panathinaikos.
She made her international debut at the 2008 European Short Course Championships in Rijeka, Croatia. She competed in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 4x50m medley relay, finishing 31st, 42nd and 20th respectively. In 2011, she featured in her first world championships.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics, she competed in the 50 metre freestyle taking the 16th place and for the national team in the 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay, finishing also in the 16th (last) place in the heats, failing to reach the final. Following this, in 2013, she was out for 8 months following shoulder surgery.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics, she again competed in the 50 metre freestyle. That year, she was also one of the Olympic torch carriers.
At the 2020 Summer Olympics, she was part of the Greek 4 x 100 m mixed medley team who did not progress to the final, despite setting a new national record in the heats.
In June 2024, Nora competed in the LEN European Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, placing 2nd in the 50m butterfly with a time of 27.87, and 2nd in the 50m freestyle with a time of 24.59 which earned her a qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Her time in the 50 m freestyle was also a new Greek record.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she competed in the 50m freestyle taking the 17th place with a time of 24.80. She was also part of the mixed 4 x 100 m medley relay team.
As of January 2025, she is the national record holder for the 50 m and 100 m backstroke and part of the teams that hold the 4 x 50 m women's medley relay record in the short course pool, and the national record holder for 50 m freestyle, 50 m backstroke and part of the record holding teams for the women's 4 x 100 freestyle, women's 4 x 100 medley, mixed 4 x 100 m freestyle and 4 x 100 m medley.

## Honours

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
| Representing Greece |||||
| 2009 | Mediterranean Games | Pescara, Italy | 2nd | 100 m freestyle |
| 2009 | Mediterranean Games | Pescara, Italy | 3rd | 4 x 100 freestyle relay |
| 2012 | European Championships | Debrecen, Hungary | 5th | 50 m freestyle |
| 2012 | European Championships | Debrecen, Hungary | 5th | 4 x 100 freestyle relay |
| 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 16th (sf) | 50 m freestyle |
| 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 16th (sf) | 4 x 100 freestyle relay |
| 2013 | Mediterranean Games | Mersin, Turkey | 1st | 100 m freestyle |
| 2013 | Mediterranean Games | Mersin, Turkey | 2nd | 100 m backstroke |
| 2013 | Mediterranean Games | Mersin, Turkey | 2nd | 50 m backstroke |
| 2013 | Mediterranean Games | Mersin, Turkey | 2nd | 4 x 100 freestyle relay |
| 2015 | World Championships | Kazan, Russia | 8th | 50 m backstroke |
| 2016 | European Championships | London, United Kingdom | 4th | 50 m backstroke |
| 2016 | European Championships | London, United Kingdom | 5th | 50 m freestyle |
| 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro | 31st (h) | 50 m freestyle |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 11th (sf) | Mixed 4×100m medley relay |
| 2024 | European Championships | Belgrade, Serbia | 2nd | 50 m backstroke |
| 2024 | European Championships | Belgrade, Serbia | 2nd | 50 m freestyle |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris | 17th | 50 m freestyle |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris | 13th | Mixed 4 x 100 m medley relay |