Athletes vs. celebrities: these days, they are one in the same. During a recent visit to Los Angeles, I met up with Greece’s top women’s beach volleyball team –Vicky Arvaniti and Maria Tsiartsiani– who despite being in Los Angeles weren’t wasting time sightseeing but instead sweated it out on the sand as they trained with the best of the best in their sport.
Watching the determination in their eyes as they faced off against such teams as Americans Kerri Walsh–Misty May Treanor in practice games was electrifying. You would have thought they were going for the Olympic gold right then and there. The passion and desire to win that gleams through their eyes is what will take them all the way to the 2012 Olympics in London.
Though these incredibly focused athletes stay on beat with their game, the photographs from the sidelines stay in full effect capturing every victory and defeat from practice games to grand slams worldwide. The life of dodging the paparazzi is alive and well within these athletes lives everywhere they go. Though at times, as they stated, it feels invasive they remain positive in believing it’s good exposure for them especially given the financial difficulties their homeland, Greece, is experiencing. This financial crisis hits hard for not only Arvaniti and Tsiartsiani but for all athletes representing the country of Greece.
“The game must go on,” says Arvaniti, “we play hard and remain strong in hopes of our next sponsor confirming their support.” Arvaniti has reached an ultimate high in her strength of the game since her debut volleyball performance at the first under-21s international event in Actinia at the age of just seventeen years. It was a dream come true to become a member of the national beach volleyball team as her idol Vasso Karadassiou became her team-mate. Between them they have secured eight FIVB tournament wins from 2004 to 2007. Their 2004 win in Valencia saw Arvaniti become one of the youngest-ever winners on the tour. She followed this by being named most improved player on the 2005 tour. Since then, Arvaniti has competed in two Olympic Games and is on course with her current teammate, Tsiartsiani, for London.
“Playing with Vicky brings me great inspiration,” says Tsiartsiani, “together we are focused on our game as we play for our great country–Greece.”
Tsiartsiani went professional in 2003. That year she placed fifth at the FIVB Open Shanghai and ninth place one year later at the same event. In 2005 Tsiartsiani placed 1st at the Greek Championships, 3rd place at FIVB Open Bali and second place at the FIVB Open Espinho. Like her team-mate, Tsiartsiani has competed in two Olympics, “We are ready!” Tsiartsiani says with excitement in her voice and sparkle in her eyes.
As a team Arvaniti and Tsiartsiani have displayed great strength in their ability to make it all the way to the London Olympics and quite possibly bring home a medal for Greece. Though they did not partake in four of the 2011 World Tour events thus far due to an injury of Tsiartsiani’s, they continue to persevere as they play ever so intensely in every tournament they participate in which has kept them placed firmly within the top 25 in the world.
“Vicky and Maria have shown for many years now that they are very good players and that they can beat even the best teams in the world. But this year they also proved that they are real fighters who never give up,” says Christoph Dieckmann (currently head coach to Arvaniti & Tsiartsiani). “Despite missing the first four tournaments due to an injury, despite the very difficult financial situation due to the crisis in Greece and despite continuous injury problems, they manage to perform well against the tops of the world and they put themselves in a place with good chances to qualify for the Olympic Games. I have a lot of respect for that”.
There is no doubt this dynamic duo will go far representing Greece. They have true patriotism with great love for their country and incredible appreciation for their fans. They are what defines true “Olympians”.