A few days ago, Efthymios (Makis) Mitas climbed to first place on the podium at the World Championships. shooting (in a skit, a competition with a shotgun and targets thrown into the shooter’s field), in Kazakhstan. The news was leaked to the media, perhaps because the sport is not popular, or because the athlete himself does not have tens of thousands of social media followers. But the 38-year-old shooter devoted 25 years of his life to the sport because, as he stated in cathimerini.grbelieves he has the potential to bring even more success to Greece.

Makis Mitas is one of the athletes who many times came close to… the faucet of great distinction, but some… dishes didn’t break and didn’t let him… drink water. Medals at the European Championships, medals at the World Championships, but big successes, which, judging by his performances, he was able to do, never came. Many times our champion has thought about quitting the sport, but there is a voice inside him that tells him about this difference, and then he takes up his gun again and begins to mark – again – saucers.

The gold medal of Kazakhstan from the world is the second in the shooting collection of world cups. The first was in 2012 in America, where, along with gold, he also “reached” two world records. “This recent success is important to me. The last 2-3 years I was close to the final and did not go to the plate. I thought about leaving, but I feel that I can bring peace to my country, an Olympic medal. That’s why I don’t stop,” he tells us.

Shooting, like all sports at the championship level, is not easy. It requires patience, perseverance and many hours of training from the athlete. “The numbers are very high. At the World Cup I scored 122/125 and despite my great performance, I didn’t know if I would make it to the final. As soon as someone reaches the final, the hopes of getting a medal are the same for everyone. Until a few days ago in “Eight athletes made it to the finals. It was decided to introduce six athletes to make it faster. I like it, but on the other hand, we are the only sport in which there is no octave,” Makis Mitas emphasized.

The 38-year-old shooter was introduced to the sport by his grandfather, who was an avid hunter. He was 13 years old when he first went with his grandfather to the shooting range of Malacasa. Little Makis grabbed a gun and fired. His marksmanship impressed shooters twice his age. “I really like it. I knew right away that this is what I want to do. Since then, every day I asked to go to the shooting range.”

“I couldn’t quit for two years”

Since then, 25 years have passed. During these years, the champion experienced both joys and sorrows. “One of the most difficult moments in my life was in 2004, when, shortly before the Olympic Games, the man who brought shooting to Greece and helped it to “bloom”, coach Timur Matoyan, died. I was a member of the Olympic team, but when he “left” there were other options and I did not compete. I was so upset that for two years I could not quit. As for the good moments, those are the moments when I live with my fellow athletes and also win awards. These images do not leave consciousness.

In 2012 and 2016, the champion wore a coat of arms on his chest and participated in the Olympic Games. In Paris, he wants… a third good one. To do this, he is already hunting for a “ticket”. “The first qualification will be given in a few days at the European Games. The European Championship and the World Championship will follow. I’m happy with my preparation.”

Makis Mitas is one of the best shotgun shooters in the world. To achieve and stay at this level, he trains at the shooting range for five hours a day. His training program also includes a gym. That is, it is an occupation that does not allow him to engage in any other activity. “Fortunately, the Federation and the Hellenic Olympic Committee are helping us. If not for the Adopt an Athlete program, which was inspired by Mr. Capralos, I would not have been able to continue playing sports. It would be impossible for me to survive,” he emphasizes.