Rena Dourou resigns seat to Eleni Avlonitou

Ms Dourou announced her decision, the first deputy running for local office to do so, and stated that she was confident that voters would honor her with their votes, even more so then in the 2012 elections. As she told TheTOC, last night, she is certain of victory. As she explained, her choice is in tune with the principles of the Left.

Her seat has been given to her party's first runner up for the constituency in the 2012 elections, Ms Eleni Avlonitou, known her career as a swimming champion.

Ms Avlonitou was born in Athens, and started swimming at the tender age of 10, while as she notes in her bio, she was a champion swimmer for a decade competing internationally, and even took part in the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

She has a PhD in Exercise Physiology from Indiana University. After her return to Greece she joined the National Center for Athletic Research at the Olympic Stadium.

She has been a lecturer at the Thessaloniki University and scientific adviser to many Greek and international athletic federations. She is still active in research in her field.

She has written two books on matters of her specialty, one of which is taught as a textbook at the university.

She has been a member of SYRIZA since its establishment. In 2006 and 2010 she was candidate for the mayoralty of Galatsi, where she is a municipal counselor.

At the same time she is a member of the board of the National Gymnastics Association, an honorary member of the National Promotion of Women in Athletics.