As the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2023 set anchor in the ancient cradle of Greece, it marked a return to roots for many.
In the heart of Athens, 250 swimmers hailing from 39 nations found themselves amidst a tapestry of culture and a city that straddles the line between modernity and antiquity. Their gazes widened at the sight of the Athens Aquatic Centre, a modern marvel that leaves even the most seasoned swimmers gasping for adjectives.
"It's my first time here. It's very inspiring to race in the place where some of the world's greatest swimmers competed. In the nearby Olympic pool is where they swam amazingly, won gold medals and set world records during the 2004 Athens Games. It's very inspiring to be here." remarked Jérémy Desplanches of Switzerland.
Lani Pallister of Australia, also a first-time visitor, shared her sentiments, "It's also my first time in Athens, I went to the Acropolis yesterday and also the Olympic Stadium, the birthplace of the Olympics. It's a surreal feeling that's really special. We are only 288 days outside of the Olympics in Paris. What better way to kick it off with a meet in Athens."
"I went to the Acropolis yesterday and also the Olympic Stadium, the birthplace of the Olympics. It's a surreal feeling that's really special."
Nineteen years past, the Athens 2004 Olympics etched a pinnacle in Greek aquatics. A gold in synchronized diving marked a historic first. And in a dramatic penalty shootout, the female water polo warriors clinched silver, the nation's inaugural team sport medal in modern Games' annals.
Post the 2004 Olympics, Greece took a hiatus from the global sporting stage. The aquatic fraternity held its breath, awaiting a reprise at this very arena. It's only under recent leadership that the Hellenic Swimming Federation decided the laurels had been rested upon long enough.
Last year, the Artistic Swimming World Series 2022 - Super Final graced the Olympic Aquatic Centre, nurturing the growth of 80 artistic swimming clubs nationwide. In May, the 35th Acropolis Swim Open unfolded, uniting international and Greek swimmers in the indoor pool. August witnessed the 3rd World Aquatics Youth Artistic Swimming Championships, where over 200 athletes from around the globe showcased their talents.
Most recently, the European Junior Open Water Championships made waves on the picturesque Greek island of Corfu.
The culmination of these efforts materialized with the Swimming World Cup in October 2023, as 450 athletes, over half of them Greek, alongside representatives from 38 nations, converged on the Athens Aquatic Centre. Over 3,000, possibly even 4,000, spectators, many young swimmers with their families, flocked to witness the stellar competition, which saw eight world cup records shattered over three days.
Under President Kyriakos Giannopoulos's guidance, the federation garnered support from the Sports Ministry and the National Olympic Committee, paving the way for future aquatic events. Giannopoulos, a four-time Olympic water polo player, cherishes a bronze medal won at the 1991 Mediterranean Games. The indoor 50m pool, specifically built for those Games, bore witness to Giannopoulos's early successes.
Proudly, Giannopoulos reported, "Greece has hosted 7 international aquatic events just in the last 12 months." While hosting future events isn't assured, the NOC meticulously considers proposals from the Greek swimming federations. Spyros Capralos, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and an accomplished former water polo player, stands at the forefront of these decisions.
The Athens Aquatic Centre, refurbished for the 2004 Olympics, still stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of those Games. With 12 pools, both indoor and outdoor, it remains an iconic venue capable of hosting world-class events.
Nikolaos Xylouris, Director of Swimming, who orchestrated the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2023 meet in Athens, was part of Greece's historic 4x200m freestyle relay team in 2004. Reflecting on that momentous occasion, Xylouris mused, "I will never forget it. I was in the generation of Greek swimmers fortunate to have swam in an Olympic Games on home soil. It was an amazing, once in a lifetime experience."
The Athens 2004 Olympics, a monumental event for Greece, saw 10,625 athletes from 201 countries compete. The 426-athlete strong Greek contingent was the nation's largest in Summer Games history since the first Modern Olympiad. Greece won 16 Olympic medals in 2004, more than at any Games in their history except for the 47 won in 1896.
Today, the Athens Aquatic Centre continues to thrive, serving as a hub for aquatic activities. With its legacy intertwined with the 2004 Games, the venue stands as a symbol of Athens's enduring connection to the Olympic spirit.
The past a prologue, the future an open sea, beckoning swimmers, young and old, to new horizons.