Sometimes in the morning, the stench from the waters of Kifissos is almost unbearable for those who cross the footbridges located near the mouth of the river, in Falirikos-Ormos, between the areas of Neos Faliros and Moschatos, as well as for the locals.

But athletes and sportswomen who have represented or will represent our country at the Olympic Games, World and European Championships train in this river. They learned to paddle and ignore the stink, the fishhooks, dead animals and all kinds of things, because the muddy waters of the river, sacred to Ancient Athens, are “gold” for the children of paddlers and kayakers, because they have a channel in the urban fabric. suitable for vigorous workouts.

The inhabitants of Ancient Athens, according to Greek mythology, worshiped Kifissos as a god, because he made the lands through which he passed fertile.

In his honor, many festivals were held on its banks, and on the left end of the western pediment of the Parthenon, he was depicted “in the form of a strong youth lying on stony ground.”

In ancient times, he was the defender of the Athenian field. However, in modern times, despite the chemical waste and garbage, he is generally recognized … as the patron saint of rowers and canoeists from the Piraeus clubs.

Many times we mention the difficulties that an athlete faces in order to fulfill his dream. However, due to these difficulties, they become stronger and cause even more our admiration.

The first time we saw rowing boats in the riverbed from the Kifissos footbridge, the image seemed so contradictory that we thought it was some kind of promotional event.

It seemed incredible that some athletes would train in a river not famous for its clear waters. So we looked for the “rowers of Kifissos” and were surprised to learn that for several years these waters were and still are the base for the appearance of athletes with international awards.

“For us it’s gold”

“For us, Kifissos is gold. Without him, some athletes, Olympians, world and Greek champions would not have appeared. It is about the best that exists in Piraeus for our sport. We are trying to use it as much as possible. If we had a way to spend more time in it, it would be even better for us. If conditions improved a little, new generations could work longer, which would have even more positive results for the sport,” said Vassilis Angelopoulos, rowing champion and president of the athletes’ association, at www.kathimerini.gr.

The brothers Angelopoulos, Vassilis, Dionisis (8th place at the Olympic Games in Rio) and Athena Maria (Greek champion with participation in the Youth Olympic Games) are all three “children of Kifissos”.

“The first time I entered a river was at the age of 14. Today I am 28. This means that I have been training there for 14 years. At twenty, I say to stop,” Vasilis said with a laugh and added: “To enter the canal, a rower must have basic experience. He must be able to steer the boat in terms of course, have insight and understand where he is sailing. The coach is the one who sees the level of the athlete and decides when to enter the channel. It didn’t make much of an impression on me when I walked in for the first time.”

Dangerous “silent” wave

In the last two decades, Greek rowers have been the protagonists of international competitions. Most fans do not know the specifics of this sport. Some of these features make the murky waters of Kifissos a valuable training ground.

“Rowing requires good water, and when we say “good water”, we mean that there is no quiet wave in it, that there are not many currents in it, that is, the water is calm. The sea can be dangerous for us. A boatman or sailboat might come up and hit us or make a wave. I remember once near Mikrolimanos a wave cut my boat in half. He made a stupid wave and broke it,” emphasized Vassilis Angelopoulos, who was crowned Greek champion in different age categories and in different boats, participated in major international competitions, and his trophy box is full of awards.

200 meters of darkness

The channel of Kifissos is used mainly by rowers of the Eretes Club and the Nautical Sports Association, as well as kayakers and canoes. “Training usually starts at 7:30 and we get out of the water around 11:00. We spend most of those hours training up and down Kifissos. We arrive a little above the railroad tracks, at Neo Faliro. It’s about four meters deep. At the mouth it is much deeper. Of course, the rain also plays a role. At the entrance to the canal, because the bridge is at the top, for 200 meters the passage is underground and dark. But you see the light in the background and navigate,” Vassilis Angelopoulos told us.

In recent years, many cities in Europe and Asia have carried out activities to illuminate waterways.

Wastewater treatment, reduced industrial activity, etc. have resulted in improved water quality. Kifissos, who was worshiped as a god in ancient times, today collects garbage and smells in some places.

But the “children of Kifissos” harmoniously coexist with him. When we asked Vassilis Angelopoulos if the smell bothers him, we were impressed by his response: “In sports and especially in championships, we can’t have everything. There will always be difficulties, and we will have to face them. When it rains, floating objects bother me more than the smell. Rain brings different things. But I need to practice. Every time I go into the water, I try to train as correctly and efficiently as possible. I don’t care about the stink.”

“I… got hooked”

Kifissos may be golden for athletes, but when they row it, they have… adventures too. “I remember, I was 16 years old, and I went to the channel at 06.00. In rowing, as you know, we do not look in the direction where we are going. When I entered, there was a fisherman standing on the bridge, and when he threw the hook, he hit me in the hand. Fortunately, I was wearing a blouse, but the hook was still caught on the skin. After a few seconds, I realized what had happened, and quickly pulled the hook and rod to … unhook. I learned how the fish feel,” the 28-year-old rower told us with a laugh.

In the waters of Kifissos, the largest rowing boat to be introduced for training is a four. But the ancient god seems to protect our athletes and, according to Vassilis Angelopoulos, helps them … psychologically.

“The only disadvantage of the canal is that due to the fact that it is in contact with the sea, the water below has a strong current. Thus, the top is always triple and the bottom is triple. Your time is 5-7 seconds faster than Schinias. It lifts your spirits when you see your time. I can say that with the help of Kifisos, many… world records have been set on the channel. But seriously, it’s about doing it right. Now what the timer says doesn’t matter. We will see real time in the matches. But Kifissos is our own pool and the best thing for us Piraeus athletes.”