Meet the Greek-Australian 'Zeus' who champions in Dragon Boating and philosophises stoically!

SBS Australia

14 hours ago

A nickname like 'Zeus' doesn't come lightly. And as you'll soon discover, Christopher lives up to it both on and off the water. We had the great pleasure of sitting down with the champion paddler — now a successful coach — to hear the story behind the accolades and gain insight into the life of a man who continues to inspire new generations.
Born and raised in Australia to a Greek family, Christopher's early years were steeped in a sense of culture and community. His mother's origins are from Cyprus. His father was born in Egypt, however his origins are from the island Lemnos, where Christopher visits annually and regards it as a home. 'My heritage absolutely shaped my upbringing,' he reflects. 'Greek values — family, hard work, loyalty, resilience — they've stayed with me all the way through my sporting career.' While many from our community typically gravitate towards football, basketball or athletics, Christopher took a different route. 'I wasn't surrounded by paddlers growing up,' he admits. 'There were no athletes in the family. I stumbled upon rowing whn i was studying in Oxford. Once I got in a boat, I was hooked. The rhythm, the mental and physical challenge — it just clicked.' Dragon boating and paddling, as he explains, is not for the faint-hearted. It's a sport that demands immense physical endurance, long hours, financial investment, and unwavering mental strength.
Source: Supplied Over the years, there were countless highlights — from national victories to the thrill of representing Australia on the global stage. But for Christopher, the recent induction into the International Hall of Fame holds deep personal meaning. 'It's not just about medals. It's recognition of the journey — of every early morning, every injury, every sacrifice. And for someone with a multicultural background, it means a lot to stand in those halls.'
Today, 'Zeus' has taken on a new role: that of coach and mentor. And the results speak for themselves.
What's his secret as a coach? 'It's about balance,' he says. 'You push, but you protect. You challenge your athletes mentally and physically, but you also help them navigate setbacks. It's about building not just winners, but well-rounded people.' He adds: 'For multicultural athletes especially, I say — embrace who you are. Don't let anyone define your limits. Our diversity is our strength.' The nickname 'Zeus'? It started as a joke among teammates — a nod to his Greek roots, leadership qualities, and powerful presence in the boat. But the name stuck. 'Do I live up to it outside the water?' he laughs. 'I try! I'm passionate, loyal, maybe a bit loud — definitely Greek in all the best ways.'
Outside paddling, Christopher enjoys cooking Greek food, reading history, and spending time with family. And yes — he travels to Greece often. His favorite place? Lemnos. He also has an ambition to climb to Greek mountains like Pindos and …Olympus.
Cristopher Alexandrou with his mother Maria Alexandrou and Themi Kallos at the SBS studios in Artarmon. Source: SBS / SBS Greek- Niko Plaskasovitis