BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Matthew Coutsos enjoys challenges and has always dove in head first to meet them.
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The accomplished Laurentian University varsity swimmer will be heading to Thessaloniki, Greece from June 25 to 30 this summer to participate in the first bi-annual Elliniada (Greek Games).
The 24-year-old is looking at the games as a chance for redemption.
Â?I was disappointed with my performances this year in the provincial championships,Â? said Coutsos.
Â?I didnÂ?t do well and this is another chance to push myself to excel.Â?
The Elliniada will showcase sports such as soccer, basketball, weightlifting and swimming.
Individuals with Greek heritage from each different continent will be represented at the games.
The opportunity to compete in the inaugural games came as a shock to Coutsos. A friend of his family had informed Coutsos about the games and he applied for a spot on the North American roster in 2002.
Â?I was up against swimmers from across North America,Â? said Coutsos. Â?I didnÂ?t think I would get in.Â?
Time passed by and Coutsos never heard a word on the status of application. The selection of participants took place in January and February. Coutsos assumed he wasnÂ?t selected.
However, a few weeks ago Coutsos decided to get back into the pool because he wanted to start training for triathlon competition. It turned out to be fate.
Â?I was back in the pool training when I got a call from the North American coach telling me I was selected,Â? said Coutsos. Â?I was surprised and happy for sure.Â?
The window of opportunity to get back into shape was closing fast.
Â?After the call I was left with about a month to get into the best shape of my life.Â?
Coutsos has been weight training in the gym regularly, but now he has become more focused and determined.
Â?I basically have to get back into cardiovascular shape,Â? said Coutsos. Â?I am turning my training up a notch.Â?
Coutsos has come a long way from a boy who took swimming lessons growing up and broke into competitive swimming in Grade 9.
Â?My dad suggested I give swimming a try and I ended up liking it,Â? said Coutsos. Â?It was one of the first times I was good at a sport and I decided to see how far I could go with it.Â?
The Windsor native came to Sudbury five years ago because of the academic programs offered at Laurentian and a certain swimmer who garnered national acclaim with two Olympic gold medals.
Â?Alex Baumann swam here and I wanted to be coached by the man (Dr. Jeno Tihanyi) who coached Alex because I thought the experience would be great.Â?
Swimming has always been a release for Coutsos.
Â?Swimming is the one thing that kind of keeps me from going insane because between studying and working I need a release,Â? said Coutsos. Â?It gives me a chance to push myself and have physical challenges.Â?
Swimming at Laurentian helped make Coutsos realize what he wanted to do in life.
Â?Through swimming I discovered the whole human kinetics idea and I am now doing my Masters on human development in muscle sociology,Â? said Coutsos. Â?If I wasnÂ?t in swimming I donÂ?t think I wouldÂ?ve realized what I wanted to do.Â?
Coutsos competed in the 50 and 100 metre butterfly event during his five years at Laurentian.
Â?Matthew was a very strong swimmer and one of the top five sprinters at the school the last five years,Â? said Phil Parker, head coach of the varsity swim team. Â?HeÂ?s a good team leader and takes first year swimmers under his wing to help them.Â?
Parker believes the Greek Games are a great way for Coutsos to cap off his career.
Â?I think he will be a great ambassador of swimming at the event and a great representative from Laurentian,Â? said Parker.
