About me
Giannis was born in 1969, in Palaio Faliro- Athens Greece.
His mother (Greek Australian born in Adelaide) influenced him to get into various Sports from early childhood: soccer, basketball, swimming, running…
He competed in his first triathlon when he was 21 and has since been involved as an athlete, coach, sports events organiser and administrator, anti doping control officer and sports journalist.
His academic background is in chemistry, sports management and administration, business management (MBA), communications marketing (MSc), sports management (MSc), sports coaching and sports science (MSc in Maximisation of Sports Performance and PhD in Sports Physiology are both in progress).
He is a great believer in Continuous Coaching Development and strives to stay current via seminar, certifications and other procedures for coaching development.
For the past 7 years he is a full time coach for endurance sports. He has unique international sports coaching certifications at the highest level (see below)
He is fully committed to further improve his coaching skills to become a worldwide top and innovative coach in Enduranace Sports in the following 4-6 years.
He is married with Stella Charalampopoulou and they have a 7 year old daughter .
Sports Experience
Started in sports back in 1977 (swimming and basketball) and Triathlon in 1990.
He was member of the Hellenic National Triathlon Team until 2001.
He has participated in more than 200 triathlon races and achieved over 150 podium places. He has also participated in many other related endurance events (running, swimming). He has completed more than 150 road running races (3km to 80kms)
He has a great experience in sports administration. Amongst others he was :
A member of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Executive Board (representing Triathlon)
Secratery General of the Hellenic Triathlon Federation
Director of the International Olympic Academy
Competition Manager for Athens 2004 Olympic Games
Sports Marketing Manager for many Sports Equipment Manufacturers & retail companies
He has organised more than 50 triathlon races all around Greece.He observed many International Triathlon Races all around the world in order to get more experience in Triathlon Events Organisations. He has attended many international seminars concerning events organisations and triathlon sports coaching, mostly in Europe.
From 2001 until 2006 he was conducting out of competition doping controls for WADA and several major IFs (FINA, IAAF) and several Anti- Doping Agencies. He has given many lectures in schools concerning “clean sports” and the dangers of using doping substances in sports.
He is the editor for various sport websites : www.triathlonworld.gr, www.triathlon.gr, www.roadrunning.gr, www.cyclingworld.gr, www.athensjournal.gr e.t.c.He was contributing author in various magazines (political and sports related).
Academic Education
April 2016- Today – PhD in Sports “Applied Physiology in Triathlon”, Sports and Exercise Physiology Lab, Dimokritus University of Thrace
October 2015- Today – MSc in Sports Science “Maximising Sports Performance”, Department of Physical Education, Dimokritus University of Thrace
September 2006 – May 2008 – Master in Business Administration (MBA) – Athens University of Economics and Business with Major in Marketing and Human Resources
September 2004 – September 2006 – MSc in “Marketing and Communication with new technologies” (Athens University of Economics and Business). His thesis was in Strategic Management of Non for Profit Organisations.
February 2003 – May 2003: Diploma in Marketing Integrated Communications (Hellenic Management Association), major in Public Relations
September 2003 – January 2006: Diploma (Distance Learning) Sports management, Leicester
September 2001- September 2002: MSc, European master in Sports Management (Lyon 1, France). The MSc is endorsed and it’s under the supervision of International Olympic Committee.
September 1989- September 1996: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Degree (BSc) in Chemistry (time working at the Laboratory Chemistry is included)
«St.Paul’s» Francohellenic Lycee, Lykeion Apolytirion 18 3/11.
