Frodida supports table tennis athlete George Mouhthis .
Meet him through the interview he gave for the newspaper "Frodida" to our journalist IriniLitina:
The first thing you notice when George starts talking is the spark of confidence in his persistent and steady gaze. He is interested in delivering his thoughts with absolute precision and is both demanding and modest. You can find it even in the tone of his voice, though he often pauses to smile and joke. He is 22 years old and looks forward to making Greece proud, as his family, his friends, his coach, his team, his city are proud of him. GiorgosMouchhis is ranked 8th in the world for the Youth category and 45th for men. He has been the gold champion of Greece in the Greek Championship of EAMM in table tennis for the last six consecutive years - from 2010 until today. In addition, he has already won a gold medal at IWAS World Junior Games in Stoke, London in 2014 –the World Junior Championship under 23 years of age - plus the corresponding silver in the individual segment.
Giorgos, what were your first steps in sports and specifically in table tennis?
I started almost randomly. When I went to primary school, I was learning guitar at the HAN Conservatory in Nice. Just below the conservatory, there was a small room with two table tennis tables. After guitar class, I went to the little window of the room and watched ping-pong, until my mother came to get me. In sixth grade, I began to play. It was a game to me, not even a sport. Slowly - I gradually loved it. In Second High School I was enrolled in a sports high school in Piraeus, where I could do sports in addition to my normal lessons. That was the time when I left HAN to Olympiakos. Later, in the 1st Lyceum, I had surgery in my head for the mass that existed, because the methods of treatment I was usingcould not fight it. The surgery was large and complicated.Itevolved into ischemic stroke and hemiplegia. Suddenly, I stopped being diligent.
How did you decide to persevere and continue to work despite the health problems that arose?
At that time I met my coach, Chronis Politsis, who showed me to be a paralympic sport. He told me he could support and help me. So, I slowly started out as a disabled person at the Pan-Hellenic Sports Association for the Disabled and I went to a special high school to have direct access to the club that was right next door. It was there where I met theI met the part of the sport and I joined it. Since then, I have raised the bar and my goals are different. Now, my workouts are 11 on average in a week, plus the weekend races. My decision to continue was clearly based on my decision to follow the path that my coach showed me and was purely a matter of trust.
What were the obstacles you encountered in your decision?
The obstacles were all in me! I had to understand the concept of sport and championship first. I had to overcome my inertia, abolish my inhibitions, and my fears. Then there was the truth that hurt me and I had to accept it. Fine words to whom do they dislike? But when it is not true, it seems in the depths to be rumored! At the beginning, when my problem first appeared, people hesitated to interact with me. This in itself was a huge obstacle that I had to deal with. On the contrary, when my coach worked with me and the results appeared, it turned out that the right job is rewarded!
What is it that allows people to overcome their fears?
You're joking; I haven’t overcome my own fearsyet ... How can I speak for anyone else? All I can say is that I do not give up. I am very literal. My vocabulary, you see, is very absolute! See also something else, very basic ... When I realized I was sorry, I was exploiting it. At school, they were all merely tolerant with me, causing them to regret. Now I find it tragic! What I've learned is that they should treat people with disabilities on equal terms! In the special school, they treated everyone equally. It happens and I am promoting awareness for this issue.That, I think, is the most serious: we are all equal! When you see that people do not understand this, I personally do not deal, I already know they have gaps in them. But when the debate becomes constructive, then you get a lot of inner strength to continue. A big saying in psychology says that even if you have Freud, if you do not want help, you will not be helped.
The mind overcomes the body, as you prove to us every day. How is this done?
The most basic thing is to accept what you have. There are three stages. First, you cry about your fate and ask "why did this happen to me". Then you adapt and say, "Okay, it could be worse". Finally, you accept it. What I mean is that the most important thing to do is to accept it. It could have happenedto anyone. But we keep going. If I can get a little better every day, after a few days, the change will be great.
What would you bet on yourself?
Betsdo not exist! There are only goals to achieve.
If you ask what my dream is - it is to play on the National Team even with a disability. Table tennis is the only sport in the world that someone with a mobility disability can still compete well in.
What would you like for the immediate future? What are your plans?
My dream is what I just told you, but what I also want to be is become the number one table tennis player in the world! This pushes me to aim even higher and higher! But for the position that I am in now, I have to thank the people who have supported me ... Firstly my family, and then my coach, Chronis Politsis - who I feel is also my family.My coaching team and alsoFrodida who supported me from my first sports steps - and especially its President, Dionysis Vassilopoulos, - the sponsors in my effort, "Wind", namely SavvasChanidis and ThanosChanidis, in "Solar Energy" Mr. Kostis Bouloyiannis ... The CPAP and especially Mr. Dimopoulos for sponsorship of the camp in Slovenia. Finally, I have to thank the Olympic Club "Kallistos" (OAKA)for the opportunity to train at their premises.
Giorgos, what is a message that you would send to children with special disabilities?
The important step for every person with disabilities is the three stages of acceptance, which I mentioned before. When this happens to a person alongside rehabilitation, acceptance becomes crucial. And then, of course, sports, sports, sports!
GiorgosMouhthis, in order toraise his performance and become better in his favorite sport, does not hesitate to trainwhenever he can, even in other sports. At the end of July, he will go to Laskos, Slovenia, in a training camp before the Para Open! All the best, Giorgos!
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