Triathlon Coach Giannis Psarelis

Giannis Psarelis, BSc, MSc, MBA

Introduction

Giannis Psarelis was born in 1969 in Palaio Faliro, Athens, Greece. Influenced by his Greek-Australian mother, who was born in Adelaide, he was introduced to various sports from an early age, including soccer, basketball, swimming, and running.

He discovered triathlon at the age of 21, and since then, he has been deeply involved in the sport as an athlete, coach, sports event organizer, administrator, anti-doping control officer, and sports journalist.

His academic background spans chemistry, sports management and administration, business management (MBA), marketing and communications (MSc), sports coaching, and sports science. He is currently pursuing an MSc in Maximization of Sports Performance.

A strong advocate for Continuous Coaching Development, he consistently updates his knowledge through seminars, certifications, and coaching education programs.

For the past 10 years, he has been a full-time endurance sports coach, holding internationally recognized coaching certifications at the highest level. He is committed to becoming one of the world’s top endurance sports coaches in the next 4-6 years.

Giannis is married to Stella Charalampopoulou, and they have an 12-year-old daughter.

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Sports Experience

Giannis began his athletic journey in 1977 with swimming and basketball and transitioned to triathlon in 1990.

• Hellenic National Triathlon Team Member (until 2001)

• Over 200 triathlon races & 150+ podium finishes

• 150+ road running races (from 3 km to 80 km)

• Multiple open water swimming and endurance events

Sports Administration & Event Organization

• Member of the Hellenic Olympic Committee Executive Board (representing Triathlon)

• Secretary General of the Hellenic Triathlon Federation

• Director of the International Olympic Academy

• Competition Manager for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games

• Sports Marketing Manager for multiple sports brands and retail companies

• Organizer of 50+ triathlon events across Greece

• Observer of major international triathlon events for experience in race organization

• Contributor to anti-doping efforts (2001-2006) with WADA, FINA, IAAF, and national agencies

• Lecturer on clean sport and anti-doping education

Sports Journalism

• Founder & Editor of sports websites:

  • www.triathlonworld.gr

  • www.triathlon.gr

  • www.roadrunning.gr

  • www.cyclingworld.gr

  • www.athensjournal.gr

• Contributing author for various political and sports magazines

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Academic Education

• MBA in Marketing & Human Resources – Athens University of Economics and Business

• MSc in Marketing & Communication with New Technologies – Athens University of Economics and Business

• MSc in European Sports Management – Université Lyon 1 (endorsed by the International Olympic Committee)

• BSc in Chemistry – National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

• Postgraduate Diplomas & Certifications in Sports Management, Sociology of Sports, and Coaching

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Scientific Publications

• Analytica Chimica Acta (Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.)

  • Flow-injection chemiluminometric determination of sodium cyclamate

  • Flow-injection chemiluminometric determination of some bile acids

• 

  triathlon coach 70.3 ironman

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Coaching Certifications

Giannis holds numerous top-tier international coaching certifications, including:

• Triathlon New Zealand Level 3 Coach (endorsed by ITU)

• Ironman Triathlon Certified Coach & Member of the Ironman Coaches Association

• Australian Swimming Teachers & Coaches Association (Silver License)

• American Swimming Coaches Association (Level 4 Certified Coach)

• North American Academy for Sport and Fitness – Marathon Running Certified Coach

• USA National Federation of High Schools – Level 2 Certified Coach (Swimming)

• Postgraduate Diploma in Sociology of Sports – University of Leicester

• International Triathlon Coaches Association – Professional Triathlon Coach

• Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority – Level 1 & 2 Certified

• Rowing Australia – Level 1 Coach

• International Society of Performance Analysis – Level 3 Applied Performance Analyst

• European Athletics Anti-Doping Certification

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Coaching Experience

Giannis began coaching in 1992 and has been a full-time endurance sports coach for the past 7 years. He has worked with 150+ athletes across multiple disciplines, including:

• Triathlon (Sprint, Olympic, Half-Ironman, Ironman)

• Marathon & Road Running (5km to Ultra distances)

• Open Water Swimming & Masters Swimming (200m-1500m freestyle)

• Cycling (Time Trial events)

Key Coaching Achievements

• 10,000+ hours of face-to-face coaching experience

• Head Coach of Athens Triathlon Team (Best Greek Triathlon Team)

• Head Coach of Dave Scott Performance Team

• Athletes have won over 400 podium places in the last 12 years

• 13+ athletes have won the general classification at major triathlon races

• 25+ athletes have achieved podium finishes in the general classification

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Specialist Knowledge & Expertise

• Sports Physiology & Performance Testing

• Triathlon & Marathon Coaching

• Open Water Swimming Technique Development

• Mental Training & Sports Psychology

• Team Building & High-Performance Sport Culture

• Endurance Sports Performance Analysis

• Custom Test Protocols for Lab & Field Testing

• Swimming & Running Technique Optimization

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Competitive Experience & Athletic Achievements

• Started Triathlon in 1990

• Completed first Ironman in 1993 (Almere, Netherlands)

• First international race in 1992 (Sofia, Bulgaria) representing Greece

• 200+ triathlon & multisport races (3 Ironman, 12 Half-Ironman)

• 150+ podium finishes

• 80+ road running races (3km to 80km)

• National Triathlon Team Member until 2001

• Elite-level physiological characteristics:

  • VO2 Max: 80 ml/kg/min (1992), 75 ml/kg/min (2001)

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Giannis Psarelis combines extensive athletic experience, scientific knowledge, and elite coaching credentials to develop world-class endurance athletes. His dedication to continuous improvement, holistic coaching, and athlete development sets him apart as a leading figure in endurance sports coaching