His parents’ love for sports was the spark that lit the fire for Apostolos Christou and made him love swimming. But it wasn’t love at first sight. As he says, “the first years were difficult, I admit. My parents enrolled me in the swimming pool because I hadn’t learned to swim, but also to get involved in sports in general. At first I didn’t like swimming at all. I would go to the pool in tears. A few years later I realised that my parents were right to insist.

She was born in 1996 in St. Petersburg. His father, a construction contractor, and his philologist mother enrolled him in the local swimming pool so that their child could exercise his body and acquire the mentality of fair play.

From school, to the swimming pool and vice versa, Apostolos did not have much free time. As he recalls, his classmates rejoiced in the free time they had during the Christmas and Easter holidays, but he even spent New Year’s Day in the pool. Somehow, his potential didn’t take long to show.

From that point on, “the smell of chlorine evoked only pleasant feelings. Swimming was exhilarating, liberating, unleashing me,” he says.

With his father as his informal manager from a young age, he signed for the Olympiacos team, where he had his greatest performances. “By the time I was an adult and on my feet, gaining my independence, he was running me everywhere. From school to the pool and from there to competitions. He was my guide, encourager, supportive. I was lucky because he is the person who influenced me, but he had the right criteria. He convinced me that I needed to make certain changes, I made them and the great performances came. My brother John, an old athlete, became a supporter in my race. I owe a lot to him too,” he said.

Somehow and with successes following one another, the medals were raining down. Top positions in Mediterranean and Pan-European Games, world championships, and the Silver medal at the Olympic Games. “I desperately wanted an Olympic medal to complete my collection. I was ready to give my best to reach my dream.”

Apostolos Christou, stayed out of the medals for 2 milliseconds in the 100 meters backstroke, where his event is considered his event. But in the end, he made history in the 200 metres backstroke! As he describes. In these Olympics I was out of the medal in that event by just 2 milliseconds. When I realized what happened to me, my spirits plummeted. For several hours I was so bad that I wanted to give up everything and return to Greece.

It was impossible for me to manage my failure. If I hadn’t talked to my family, it’s safe to say I would have come back. By talking, they helped me realize that this lost opportunity did not mean the end of the world. Even though the 200m backstroke is not my strongest event, I gathered my strength and said “now is my chance!” I jumped into the pool gathering my strength and lived the dream. After so many medals and with the excitement I have experienced, I can say that no other moment in my career can compare to this one. I hit the water and didn’t think about anything. Void. Empty mind, but my heart was thirsty. I wanted to win a medal for my family, for Greece, for me. I’ve spent two years of hard work, I couldn’t come back empty-handed.”