Sea of Inspiration

THE LIMASSOL NAUTICAL CLUB is where Pavlos Kontides discovered his passion for sailing at the age of nine, after his father took him out for his first spin.

DINAH KAPROU

Just two years shy of 30, Pavlos Kontides has already made history, sailing into the annals as the first and only Cypriot athlete to win an Olympic medal for his country and winner of the prestigious Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2018 award.

Humble, authentic and yet outstandingly talented, Pavlos Kontides has achieved so much in such a short time. And it is easy to see how: hard work, dedication and commitment runs through this Olympic sailor’s veins, something which has not gone unnoticed. Recently awarded the prestigious title of ‘Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2018’, Pavlos is not only the pride of his country, a multiple world champion and a national treasure in his own right, but also the definition of a true seafarer, with a passion for the water and admirable aspirations to inspire future generations.

As two of the most successful years of his career draw to a close, Pavlos reflects on his achievements, saying: “This Rolex award is something I’ve been dreaming of from a very young age; to be able to now stand among the legends of the sport who were my idols when I was growing up really feels special.”

PATH TO SUCCESS

It was in May 1999 that Pavlos’s father – also an avid sailor – first took his son to the Limassol Nautical Club for a spin out on the water in a single-handed Optimist. Nineyear-old Pavlos was instantly hooked.

“From that very first time, that was it. What started as

a hobby, quickly became my way of life, and I remember spending as many hours as possible in the sea as a child.”

Subsequent weekends and holidays were spent enjoying the bountiful waters around Cyprus. In 2004, during a trip to the Summer Olympics in Athens, something shifted for 14-year-old Pavlos. As he watched the world’s best sailors compete for the ultimate sporting recognition, inspired and impassioned, Pavlos felt a spark being ignited inside him… a desire, a vision that he too would one day become an Olympian.

This dream inched closer to reality following his first major international win at the Youth World Championship in Canada when he was just 17. It was then that Pavlos realised he might just have what it takes to go all the way to the top. “I knew then that with the right people to support me, with the correct effort, pushing it hard and dreaming high, I could even achieve an Olympic medal,” he says.

With a succession of subsequent world championships under his belt, Pavlos turned his attentions to the London Olympics, describing his triumphant success at the 2012 games as the moment that defines him as an athlete. Rubbing away goose bumps as he remembers stepping onto the Olympic podium and seeing the Cypriot flag there for

“WHEN I GO OUT THERE TO SAIL, IT’S AS IF I’VE PRESSED A BUTTON AND I FORGET EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING ON THE SHORE.”

DINAH KAPROU

“WHEN I GO OUT THERE TO SAIL, IT’S AS IF I’VE PRESSED A BUTTON AND I FORGET EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING ON THE SHORE.”

the first time, Pavlos struggles to put into words the intense burst of emotions he felt in those few seconds that are now forever engraved in history. “I can tell you that winning that first Olympic medal for my country and myself was worth all the sacrifice and the hard work. Today it continues to be the reason I try my best in every competition; to give Cyprus and its people a reason to be proud.”

SMALL ISLAND, BIG DREAMS

Contrary to the limiting belief that hailing from a small island might have hindered his chances of international success, Pavlos credits his heritage and upbringing in Limassol as the very factors which helped shape and mould him into the sailor he is today.

“Logic will say that as a Cypriot, it’s almost impossible to beat the big nations; but I broke through that mental barrier, and in doing so, I think I also broke it for many generations of Cypriot athletes to come,” he says.

To Pavlos, growing up in a destination that is surrounded by the sea, a mere seven minutes from the coast and with such easy access to the top-class sailing facilities, has always been an advantageous stepping stone on his path to success. And the year-round great weather and excellent water conditions didn’t hurt either. His face breaks into a smile as he talks of the temperatures he experienced competing around the world, which never quite live up to the welcoming warm embrace of his beloved Mediterranean.

DINAH KAPROU

DINAH KAPROU

“Sailing in Cyprus as a child was, and still is, perfect. There are great winds and the sea itself is calmer, more inviting and the temperature doesn’t drop below 16, even in the winter. We are really blessed to live here.”

Despite now travelling the world for his sport, learning to adapt to its many diverse seas and oceans, and experiencing its multitude of rich cultures, it is still his home town of Limassol that Pavlos most looks forward to returning to, both to spend time with family, friends and loved ones, but also to soak up the unique, contagious vibe of the city, and fill up on the tastes of home.

“People here are friendly, they enjoy themselves and have fun, and I think that’s really the purpose of life – to be happy and to take advantage of this great weather and of the sea. We cannot ask for more,” he explains.

LOVE FOR THE SEA

Of all the things that Pavlos misses the most about Limassol on his extensive travels abroad, it is the simple act of driving his car next to the sea that he pines for the most – a quiet and subtle reminder that deep down, this islander turned international sporting titleholder, is a true man of the sea.

Comparing this special connection with the sea to an almost-human relationship with a living, breathing entity, Pavlos claims that he has always had a deep-seated love and respect for the sea, calling it his “second home” and part of who he is. When he’s not sailing, he can be found sitting by the water, listening to the waves and searching for inspiration in its ever-shifting landscape. What nurtures the love for the sea? “One word. The freedom. When I go out there to sail, it’s as if I’ve pressed a button and I forget everything that is happening on the shore. It’s just me, my boat, the weather and my opponents.”

But it is also the way the sea changes the way he thinks, that has shaped Pavlos in both his career as a sailor and his outlook on life. Inspired by its infinite lack of boundaries, Pavlos associates the sea’s endless expansion, past the horizon in all directions, to our boundless human potential, whose only limitations are those we set in our own minds.

And this is one of the most important lessons that Pavlos wishes to pass down to the next generation of aspiring young Cypriots and athletes.

NAMED THE ‘ROLEX WORLD SAILOR OF THE YEAR 2018’,Pavlos earned several worldchampionships before winning thefirst Olympic medal for Cyprus in2012 and becoming local hero.

Despite a busy schedule of hardcore training and gruelling workout sessions, while also studying for a Masters in Sports Management, Pavlos still makes time to use his platform as a positive role model, inspiring kids to sail, dream big, push themselves and work hard to achieve their goals – a duty he describes as “a big responsibility, but also a sweet one.” And while he still dreams of adding an Olympic Gold to his collection in the near future, he is also driven by a long-term vision – a vision of developing a nautical culture in Cyprus, with the sea around Limassol filled with sails all year round, where people of all ages can enjoy sailing, and where highlevel international sailors can come and take advantage of the facilities, the weather and the free pitch right on their doorstep. What’s more, his home city has what it takes to offer sailors a unique world-class experience out of the water, with great hotels, top restaurants and unbeatable lifestyle options.

Self-effacing to the end, it is the materialisation of this dream alone that will leave Pavlos feeling that he has earned his place in the history books. “I think there is definitely more potential for sailing to enrich our tourism. We can attract a lot of foreign sailors who will inspire and teach our young athletes and have a positive impact on the community as a whole. If and when that happens, I will feel that I have made a difference in the world.”