Papageorgiou: “I feel blessed”

Vassilis Papageorgiou enchanted at the European Wrestling Championship in Tirana and with the bronze medal sealed a course of years.

He proved to everyone why he is still considered a great talent of Greek Wrestling and Greek sports.

The “wolf” with great performances won the bronze medal and showed that he could do even more. Vassilis Papageorgiou spoke about the European experience and did not hide his joy.

Vassilis Papageorgiou’s interview in detail

Santa, congratulations. You won the bronze medal in the European championship. Several days have passed. How do you feel;

“I feel blessed very happy and excited. It is a unique feeling that will follow me throughout my life. It was something I worked for many years and I’m really happy.”

Was a medal your goal?

“The medal has always been my goal since I was a little kid. I wish I was on the highest step of the podium, but I am not ungrateful. I am very happy with my performances.”

During the entire course of the event, when did you realize that you could get on the podium?

“This year I trained with Arion Kolitsopoulos, an excellent wrestler and friend. In the last three weeks I felt very confident and when I went to Tirana I was sure to get on the podium”

Your image at the event was very good. The only loss came with… a draw. Do you think you could go higher?

“I definitely could have climbed higher on the podium. I have been training with Sharmanov for 3 years. We know each other very well. I have fought him before and other times, but I have not beaten him in an official match. What I look for is improvement. I lost 8-0 to this particular athlete 3 years ago and I have reached the point where he counts me. He is an athlete and every year he is in the medals in European and World championships”.

What is your next goal?

“Right now rest is important. Then we will set the next goals.”

Where would you like to dedicate the medal?

“I want to dedicate the medal first of all to my father and coach Nikos Papageorgiou, who is by my side in everything and I am a bit… unruly! To my teacher Alexis Kolitsopoulos who has helped me a lot training-wise and psychologically. Without him I don’t know if I would be here and I know he loves me even if he doesn’t show it much. I would like to dedicate this to my mom Pavlina Georgiou, who is the woman of my life and to my brother George who was away from home a lot this year as he was serving in the special forces. I would also like to dedicate it to the Hellenic Wrestling Federation that always supports us and to all the people of Theseus Peristeri, as well as to my friends who always support me”