Cypriot sailor and ILCA World Champion in laser class, Pavlos Kontides, has said his aim is to qualify for the next Olympic Games in Tokyo.
In an interview with CNA, Kontides, who in September this year won the gold medal in the Men’s Laser Championship in Split Croatia, thus securing his biggest victory in his career, said that his aim in 2018 is the World Championship in Aarhus in Danmark, that will mean the first qualification for the next Olympic Games in Tokyo, in 2020.
«So, my goal is to secure the qualification and do my best’ he told CNA.
In September in Croatia, Kontides won the gold medal, leaving Rio Olympic Games Gold medallist, Australia’s Tom Burton behind in second place and fellow Aussie Matthew Wearn in the third position. The Cypriot sailor is also a London Olympic Games silver medallist. Four years ago, Kontides finished 2nd in the Laser World Championship in Oman.
Kontides said that this is a good year for him, and referred to the four medals he won, among which a gold medal in a World Cup in France and a silver medal in a World Cup in Miami.
No other athlete in the laser category has managed to achieve four medals in a year, he said, noting that after this success, he will rank first in the overall world ranking.
The Cypriot sailor told CNA that experience plays a significant role. Games that bring experience, he said, are very important for an athlete to mature.
Kontides said that the secret of an athlete’s success is hard work, persistence and patience.
In his interview with CNA, Kontides sent a message to the people, especially the youth, saying that `there is no failure, there are only undesirable results`.
“Failure is when you stop trying. When an undesirable result comes, you can try again’ he said.
The Cypriot sailor noted that one should always pursue things that he loves and do things for himself and not for anyone else.
He also said that in the future when he retires, he would like to help young people develop their capacities in the sport.
As regards the future of the sport in Cyprus, he told CNA that there are children who love the sport adding that Cyprus has the perfect conditions for sailing, all year round, an advantage which other countries do not enjoy.
This is our greatest advantage and we must exploit it, he continued.
He pointed out that there is room for improvement, especially by implementing a strategic plan for the development of this sport.
