Young Dimitris Giantsios secured second place at the Judo Australia 2021 National Championships that took place over the weekend on the Gold Coast.
Giantsios is an athlete with Sydney University’s Judo club, coached by Kristof Frankowski, who has competed with the colors of three countries: Poland, New Zealand and Australia with many accolades.
It was the first time he competed in the 73kg weight category, as his normal class is 60 kg. Giantsios went on to win the silver medal.
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Dimitris Giantsios was five years old and lived in Leptokaria, Pieria when his parents recommended he try his hand at the Olympic sport of judo.
Judo is a martial art that was born in Japan in the 19th century. It combines jujitsu, a form of wrestling, with mental discipline and was pioneered by Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo as we know it today.
Giantsios learned the first secrets of judo from his two coaches, Athanasios and Christos Katelas at the Hermes Sports Club in his home town.
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Many things have changed in the life of the young judo athlete since then, notably the move he made with his family to start a new life in Australia.
“Yes, I want to become a world champion like Elias Iliadis,” he told Neos Kosmos last year.
Giantsios is definitely on the right track to make his dreams come true.
