Eleni Charalampidou-Layton

Photo by: David Kaplan

Class:
Senior
Position:
Varsity
Height:
5-7
High School:
2nd High School of Kalamaria
Hometown:
Thessaloniki, Greece

PRONUNCIATION

2025-26 | SENIOR
Academic All-Big Ten
• Took to the water for all six of the Gophers' events in her final season on campus
• Finished the year with a strong showing at the 2026 Big Ten Rowing Championships (May 15 & 17), helping the 2V8 boat secure a second-place finish in the Petite Finals after racing to fourth in the opening-day heats
• Powered the 2V8 crew to an undefeated performance on Lake Phalen at the Twin Cities 2K (May 2), sweeping both the heats and the finals on home water
• Competed in three races at the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 18-19) in California, helping the 2V8 to three consecutive third-place finishes over the weekend
• Rowed with the 2V8 boat through three rounds at the Rocky Top Invitational (Apr. 3-4), registering fourth-place finishes in both the heats and the finals alongside a fifth-place semifinal result
• Raced twice at Virginia's Rivanna Romp (Nov. 9) to wrap up the fall campaign, crossing the line ninth with the 3V8 lineup and 11th as part of the 5V4 crew
• Began the season with a runner-up performance on the 2V8 at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 4)
• Earned third varsity letter

2024-25 | JUNIOR
Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed in two regattas during her third year on campus
• Opened the Rivanna Romp (Nov. 10) in Virginia by finishing fifth with the 1V8 in the Varsity Eights race
• Went on to place 15th as part of the 3V4 boat to close the Rivanna Romp (Nov. 10) during the Varsity Fours race
• Turned in a fifth-place performance with the 3V4 crew at the season-opening Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 5) before adding a second-place effort later in the day on the 2V8 boat

2023-24 | SOPHOMORE
Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed in all eight regattas for the Gophers, including each of the six during the spring on the 2V8 boat
• Turned in a fifth-place performance at the Big Ten Championship (May 19)
• Placed second in the final race of the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 19-20) in Sarasota, Fla., after finishing fourth and fifth to begin the regatta
• Claimed dual victories over both Kansas and Kansas State at the Big 12/Big Ten Double Dual (Apr. 12)
• Finished second versus No. 12 Ohio State (Apr. 6) and third against No. 16 Tennessee (Mar. 29) on the road
• Helped the 2V8 crew to a race win over Gonzaga (Mar. 10) during a dual in Chula Vista, Calif., to begin the spring season
• Raced to fourth with the 1V8 and 13th on the 2V4 at Virginia's Rivanna Romp (Nov. 12)
• Opened the season with a pair of second-place finishes in the 3V4 and 2V8 at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 7)
• Earned second varsity letter

2022-23 | FRESHMAN
• Competed with the 2V8 boat for all six regattas during her first season with the Gophers along with one appearance in the 1V4 boat
• Part of the 2V8 boat that finished seventh at the 2023 Big Ten Championship (May 14)
• Turned in seventh and fifth-place results in the morning and afternoon sessions, respectively, on the 2V8 boat at the Dexter Lake Invitational (Apr. 29)
• Finished second on the 2V8 boat during the Big Ten & Big 12 Double Dual versus Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma (Apr. 15)
• Recorded performances of third, fourth and fourth in three sessions of the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 7-8) with the 2V8 boat
• Placed second with the 2V8 boat in a Double Dual against Indiana and Tulsa (Mar. 25)
• Earned a pair of second-place finishes in her Gophers debut at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 1) racing with the 1V4 and 2V8 boats
• Earned first varsity letter

PERSONAL
• Daughter of Nikos and Vagy
• Has a younger sibling, Vasi
• A member of the Greece National Team in 2020-2021 and also rowed at the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki between 2017 and 2022
• Earned silver and bronze medals at the European Junior Championships and placed sixth at the World Rowing Championship
• Graduated from 2nd High School of Kalamaria in Thessaloniki, Greece, in 2021 along with Gophers' teammate Nena Papaterpou
• Her school coach, Pantelis Papaterpos, competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics for Greece
• Competed in rowing, tennis, volleyball, swimming and track and field in her prep career
• Enjoys listening to music and walking in nature outside of rowing
• Chose to attend the University of Minnesota because "it is a place where you learn to be an open-minded person."
• Graduated from the University of Minnesota in the spring of 2026 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management