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Athlete shines at ?Big Fat Greek? swimming meet

BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW [email protected] When Matthew Coutsos stepped onto the starting platform to compete in the first bi-annual Elliniada (Greek Games) for swimming he felt he was more than just an athlete.
BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW

When Matthew Coutsos stepped onto the starting platform to compete in the first bi-annual Elliniada (Greek
Games) for swimming he felt he was more than just an athlete. He felt like he was part of the family.

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?With all the Greek people there, it felt like I was standing in front of one huge family,? says Matthew Coutsos. ?It was an experience I?ll never forget.?
?With all the Greek people there, it felt like I was standing in front of one huge family,? said Coutsos. ?It was an experience I?ll never forget.?

Coutsos, who attends Laurentian University, said he went to Greece with the hopes of proving to himself he could still compete at an elite level.

He proved he still had what it takes in the pool, and he landed back in Sudbury July 2 with three shiny medals to show for his efforts.

Coutsos won a gold medal in the 100-metre butterfly morning competition and a silver medal in the 100-metre
butterfly evening competition and captured silver in the 50-metre butterfly.

?I didn?t go into the games with any expectations at all because I thought I didn?t have the experience to compete,? said Coutsos.

The relaxed approach to the games made Coutsos realize a lot about himself.

?I usually get too serious when I compete,? said Coutsos. ?At these games I was able to relax and just let things happen and it all worked out well for me.?

The whole experience was new for Coutsos.

?I didn?t feel like I was competing against other athletes,? said Coutsos. ?It was like being on one big team.?

The games are a great way to celebrate Greek heritage and culture.

?These games were fantastic,? said Coutsos. ?It was a great way to get Greek people from all over the world together and meet one another.?

Coutsos would love to go back to the next Greek Games.

?I would like to go as a coach for swimming next time,? said Coutsos.

Coutsos credits Laurentian University with helping him prepare for the games.

?The Laurentian University swim centre let me train there before I went to the games,? said Coutsos. ?It was important to me and it helped.?

Upon returning to Canada, Coutsos competed in a triathalon in his hometown of Windsor.

He will now concentrate on completing his studies and focusing on the rest of his life.

?I want to finish my master?s degree in human development at Laurentian...I just finished my first year and and I have another year to go. Then I would like to get my PhD.?

Coutsos is also planning to jump into the coaching pool.

?This fall, I will be coaching kids at the Laurentian University swim club,? said Coutsos. ?It will be pretty cool.?

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