Galery

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When in the middle of August in the media appeared the news that Yannis Drimonakos won a bronze medal at the European Swimming Championships in Budapest the joy was great. Greece climbed again the European ladder of success and its hopes for a return to its former glory in swimming woke up again. Yiannis himself climbed up one of his own, invisible ladders. This of the justice and personal success, which he secretly opened in his soul. Because the outcome from Budapest is not only a victory over the opponents. It is a victory over the past, over the injustice and despair and finally over himself. Personal satisfaction, reward and proof that you can win. As he says it himself the success from Hungary is also a victory over people who did not believe in him and because of whom for two years he was suspended from the waters of the pools.

At this year's European Championship the Greek strongly hoped for a medal. Although he was able to make his dream come true, Drimonakos was not particularly pleased with the outcome: "I can not say I'm happy because my time is not very good. Surely I can swim better. I do not think I could win the gold medal, but to get so close to 1.57 are to blame all the mistakes that I made. This of course is due to the fact that in two years I have not participated in any competitions and in the European Championship experience is of great importance... What I would like to say is that I came here to start again to participate in European championships. The most important thing in life is not to win but to enjoy what you do. And this is how I feel recently. "

He might not be satisfied with the outcome, but he is certainly pleased with the success as such. Before the Down Town magazine, he admits that the discovery of doping substances in his blood two years ago was so depressing for him, that he was a step away from givng up the professional swimming. The fatal day came in May 2008. Drimonakos is desperate. He assures the Greek swimming federation that intentionally he has not been taking doping, nor has he heard of anyone "giving" him. In his desperation, he retires from the active sports career. Shortly thereafter, the federation suspends him from all sporting events for the next two years... From the "Miracle Man", he becomes wanted and criticized by the media traitor. Doubt, disappointment and lack of faith in sport bring him down. To save what little is left of his healthy spirit, he decides to go to America and open a new page in his life. Away from the cameras and journalists he is devoted to rest in the company of his family. Later he returns to Greece and decides to undertake an activity which returns him to his childhood years. Drimonakos becomes a swimming instructor in a children's camps. Working with children rescues mentally the swimmer. This work in combination with the advices of the sports psychologist Manolis Georgiadis make him to increasingly think of returning to professional swimming.

Not long after this he changes the coach and joins the team of KoA Tripoli. The period is really tough. Drimonakos is forced to struggle with financial problems as the sponsors who learn about the doping scandal withdraw ...

After two years it's time for the hardest competition of his life. The championship in Budapest. "This was the hardest battle of my life so far because I had to beat my opponents, myself and those who took me as a target and are still waiting for me in the corner, although the two years since my punishment have elapsed now" told Down Town Drimonkos. Therefore, after the last meter in the pool in Budapest, he did not control his words to reporters: "Now everyone can shut their mouths".

And how does the winner of the most difficult battle feel now? "At the moment I am happy. Now I do what I want under conditions that like. Without intrusive ideas for titles and manias for a medal. What interests me is the feeling of water, this is what I missed, not the pedestal. And to get there I had to go through this whole experience".