Guest guest Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 Light and Love Below is a story about known gymnast from Greece aqand his devotion to Swami in short When Dimosthenis Tampakos of Greece was strolling along the corridors of the Andhra Pradesh Olympic Bhavan in Hyderabad, none realised that he was an Olympic gold medallist gymnast (Roman Rings, 2004 Athens). What was this Greek sporting hero doing in Hyderabad? Being an ardent devotee of Sri Satya Sai Baba, Tampakos was on a visit to the Sports Coaching Foundation in Hyderabad which is run by K. Sai Baba, another devotee of the Puttaparthi saint. Tampakos says he is always inspired by the teachings of Baba. “You tend to feel in a different world when you think of him. There is always a special ambience in Puttaparthi,” he remarked. He also mentioned that ever since he became a follower of Baba in 1996, he has made it a point to visit Puttaparthi every January for the Sports Day celebrations there. Another interesting revelation from this champion gymnast was that he preferred not to undergo shoulder surgery before the Athens Games. He believed in the blessings of Baba and went on to win a gold. “I owe my gold to Baba,” he says with all reverence. And, when this Greek athlete interacted with budding stars at the Sports Coaching Foundation in Hyderabad, his message was simple: Dream big but take care to achieve it with all sincerity and commitment. In a chat with Sportstar, Tampakos aired his thoughts about contemporary sport and his belief in Baba’s teachings. Talking of his own career, Tampakos, who is 32 now, says he is looking forward to competing in the 2012 Olympics in London. “I am disappointed that I did not qualify for the Beijing Games, but will love to be there in London. For this, I feel next year’s World championships will be the most crucial,” says the Greek. He takes immense pride from the fact that his Athens gold was the 100th medal won by Greece in all Olympics. “I don’t think age is a barrier for me,” he asserts while saying that he won his Olympic gold at 28. “What matters is fitness and commitment to the task at hand.” From the publishers of THE HINDU; Vol. 31, No 37. Sep. 13,* 2008 (*this date is not mistake) http://www.sportstaronnet.com:80/stories/20080913503802800.htm Namaste - Reet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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