Athan Dritsas is an ambitious 17-year-old whose long list of accolades speaks volumes about his incredible talent.
A national team member since 2011, he started karate in 2005, aged seven, and received his black belt three years later.
Coming off a gold medal win at an Under/21 competition in his weight division last month, Athan has been crowned the 2015 Australian National Champion – which led him to being named in Australia’s national team to compete at the Under/21 World Championships in Jakarta in November.
With sport in his DNA from a young age, he puts himself through a gruelling regime to keep in shape for competition, all while completing his year 12 VCE studies this year – something he puts down to time management.
“I train everyday, it is difficult this year balancing year 12, my fitness, karate, conditioning, but I have been managing it. I think time management is the most important thing when you’re trying to succeed in something,” he said.
“Every morning before school I’ll get up and I’ll do a bit of stretching, a little jog around the block and some activation exercises, get the body going. On a Monday I’ll do strength and conditioning, on Tuesday I do karate, Wednesday strength and conditioning, Thursday karate, Friday strength and conditioning, Saturday karate, and Sunday I’ll do speed training like sprints, or some aerobic conditioning. I’m training every day for about two hours.”
The determined champion hopes to one day win gold for Australia at Olympic level – karate isn’t yet a recognised Olympic sport, but it may be so by Japan 2020 – and at senior World Championships.
His awards are countless, and have taken him to destinations around the world including Greece, the United States and Fiji, but competing in Indonesia in November is amongst his favoured achievements.
“This year the biggest goal was getting to the World Championships again which is in Indonesia in late November.
“Representing your country in your sport is one of the highest honours and being selected for world championships again is really a great honour and I’m very privileged and proud. I didn’t want to get selected and say ‘that’s it’, I’m going there for medals, to take first place, that’s my goal.”
And the teen is quick to appreciate his support networks – none more so than his parents, who continue to sacrifice a lot to see him fulfil his dreams.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have my parents supporting me, they’re helping my brother (who also competes) and I travel, take us interstate, take us to training on a daily basis, so I’ve been very fortunate with that. Because karate isn’t in the Olympics at the moment, I guess the funds are coming from my parents so that’s why it makes it a little bit harder and more valuable for what they’re doing for me. I’m very grateful for that.”
For the time being, Athan is hoping to find sponsors for his upcoming tournament in Jakarta and has created a Facebook page exhibiting his talent: go to www.facebook.com/pages/Athan-Dritsas/772945002802350