When Nicos Polychronidis told people he was heading to Sochi to compete for Greece as a ski jumper, they laughed in his face.
But now the German-born athlete will have the last laugh as Greece’s first ever competitor in the sport.
Last Saturday, the 24-year-old competed for the first time in the Olympics, coming 48th in the qualifying round with a score of 85. He went up four positions from his best in the practice jumps and was just eight positions away from progressing to the next round. He admits he’s not in the best form.
“I’m not in my best form currently and will unlikely contend for a high place, but in the recent competitions I’ve been getting better,” he said.
“I know I’m capable of qualifying for the main Olympic tournament, but I’m happy being here. Every moment at the Games is great fun for me.”
Amazingly, the German born athlete only switched his citizenship to become a Greek local (his father is Greek, his mother German) in the last three years, hoping to increase his chances at entering the Olympic team.
He still trains in the Oberstdorf under the same coach he’s had since entering the famous ski jumping school in the town at age 12.
He competed in the FIS Continental Cup under the German flag until 2011 until making the switch.
“The people in the Hellenic Olympic Committee were happy to accept me,” he says.
“We quickly settled all the formalities but I had to stay without any official competitions for a year. That was the most terrible and boring year in my life.”
Polychronidis is now hoping to increase his ranking, and improve on his best of 38 on the large hill at Sapporo in Japan for the World Cup.
The Olympic dream will continue.
Source: AFP