Spyridon "Spiros" Bitsakis (; born March 4, 1981) is a Greek former swimmer, who specialized in freestyle events. He is a two-time Olympian (2000 and 2004), and a 2003 All-American swimmer in the 100 m freestyle, while studying in the United States. He is one of two Greek swimmers, alongside Apostolos Tsagkarakis, who trained for the

Alabama Crimson Tide The Alabama Crimson Tide refers to the college athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletic varsity teams that represent the University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide teams compete in the Na ...

, under head coach Don Gambril, at the

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, the Capstone, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of ...

Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, Tuscaloosa County in west-central Alabama, United States, on the Black Warrior River where the Gulf Coastal Plain, Gulf Coastal and Piedmont (United States), Piedm ...

Senior career

Bitsakis made his official debut at the

2000 Summer Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, officially branded as Sydney 2000, and also known as the Games of the New Millennium, were an international multi-sport event held from 15 September to 1 October ...

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

. He failed to reach the top 16 in the 100 m freestyle, finishing in a thirty-fourth place tie with Kyrgyzstan's Sergey Ashihmin at 51.28. He also placed fifteenth, along with Athanasios Oikonomou,

Spyridon Gianniotis Spyridon "Spyros" Gianniotis (; born 19 February 1980) is a Greek competitive swimmer who specialises in long-distance and open-water freestyle events. He is an Olympic silver medalist, two-time World Champion, World Cup gold medalist, and two ...

, and

Dimitrios Manganas Dimitrios Manganas (born 24 February 1978) is a Greek former swimmer who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics, in the 2000 Summer Olympics, and in the 2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olymp ...

, in the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay (7:35.77). When his home nation Greece hosted the

2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad (), and officially branded as Athens 2004 (), were an international multi-sport event held from 13 to 29 August 2004 in Athens, Greece. The Games saw 10,625 athletes ...

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

, Bitsakis competed only as a relay swimmer in the men's 4 × 100 m freestyle. Teaming with

Aristeidis Grigoriadis Aristeidis ("Aris") Grigoriadis (; born 6 December 1985) is a Greek swimmer from Thessaloniki. He was named the 2005 Greek Male Athlete of the Year. Career Grigoriadis was the first Greek swimmer to be crowned world champion i ...

, Andreas Zisimos, and Alexandros Tsoltos in heat two, Bitsakis swam a third leg and recorded a split of 52.25, but the Greeks settled only for seventh place and fourteenth overall in a final time of 3:24.26.

References

External links

2004 Olympic Profile – Eideisis Ellinika
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bitsakis, Spyridon 1981 births Living people Olympic swimmers for Greece Swimmers at the 2000 Summer Olympics Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Olympics Greek male freestyle swimmers Swimmers from Athens Alabama Crimson Tide men's swimmers Expatriate swimmers in the United States 21st-century Greek sportsmen