George Cretekos..............................................Ashley Ziomek

George Cretekos

BY ASHLEY ZIOMEK

Ashley Ziomek is a freelance writer living in Western New York.

World-class power skier George Cretekos Photo by Elliot Cramer

In 1976, just married George Cretekos began experiencing chest pain and joint swelling, symptoms consistent with a heart attack. This puzzled the twenty-three-year-old, who’d always enjoyed good health and high levels of physical activity. Cretekos drove himself to the hospital where he was immediately evaluated by the emergency team. “After numerous tests, they came up with this rare disease called Sarcoidosis,” he says. “Basically, tissue, organs, primary lymph nodes swell to the point [that] they interrupt the function of the heart and lungs.”

Cretekos’ work as a fulltime officer and field trainer for the Allegany County Sheriff’s Department did not allow for pause. “I overcame it,” he says. “I was doing all of the things I intended to do with my life at that point. I was determined not to let it hinder me in any way.”

Cretekos is also a worldclass power skier, level three ski instructor, and staff trainer at Bristol Mountain. “[Being a power skier] requires an incredible amount of strength,” he says.

A constant voice of reason and positivity, Cretekos proudly spouts his personal motto, “You can’t go wrong with strong.” He encourages others to maintain good physical health through strength training and healthy eating habits so they can get out and do whatever they dream of doing.

“You may not be the best at it, but you want to be the best you can be,” says Cretekos. “You’re not too old to be relevant, you’re not too old to enjoy life.” FY

Cretekos simultaneously navigates osteoarthritis (also known as “wear and tear arthritis”) and Sarcoidosis with a “train smarter, not harder” attitude. “Being diagnosed with a rare inflammatory disease at a younger age, you take note of the fact that health is important,” he says. “Good health is not guaranteed; you have to work at it.” Cretekos still suffers side effects from the disease but does not let them slow him down; his colleagues jokingly call him “the freak of nature.”