George Oxinos: The quiet guy with an accent

George Oxinos is a senior on the SIU men's swimming team. Born in Nicosia, Cyprus, Oxinos was a member of the Cyprian national team and has medalled three times in the Games of the Small States of Europe. He recently took time out to speak with Christopher Morrical of the Daily Egyptian.

Daily Egyptian: How does your personality differ from when you are with your friends and when you're at a meet?

George Oxinos: They are completely different things. At a meet, I have to be focused. You have to know all the steps of the race. You have to know how you are going to start, how you're going to finish. I'm pretty nervous for races. That helps me to keep awake. When I'm out with my friends, I'm more outgoing. I don't have anything in my mind. I'm not nervous at all. I'm really quiet before my races. I don't like talking to people a lot. It's just different situations, I guess.

DE: How do you prepare before each meet?

GO: The night before, I think about the races. I picture myself before the race, going through the whole race, picturing myself going through it. Every single step of it. I have swum the races so many times, I pretty much know how I'm going to feel in every moment of the race. I know I'm going to get tired. I have to keep going. I have to keep my stroke. As far as meals, it's the usual stuff. Pasta and rice. Nothing special.

DE: What got you started in swimming?

GO: My dad. I live on an island. We're surrounded by sea. I grew up somewhere where the sea is the main thing to go and do. My dad liked to go underwater fishing. We had a boat and he wanted me to start going with him, so I started swimming for that reason. After that, I became interested in it, and started competing and here I am.

DE: What was the experience like being in the 1997 Games of the Small States of Europe?

GO: It was awesome. Cyprus is a small country. It's called the Small States Olympics. The smaller countries of Europe participate so it's not like Cyprus playing against the United States or France. We go to countries that are equal to us. It's very competitive. Everybody is really pumped about the meet. Our major opponent is Iceland. We're big rivals. We always compete with them for first place. We're somewhere where we can be recognized. If you go to the Olympics, Cyprus is just a small island and most people don't even know where it is, but there, we're a major part of the Games, a major power. We're one of the best countries. It was a great experience.

DE: You're a senior now. Is there more pressure to step up?

GO: There is a little more pressure. You have to show the new freshmen coming in what the swim team is all about and how to work as a group. You have to be a leader sometimes. We've been here for four years. We've been through a lot. We know Coach [Rick] Walker better. We have to try and help them get used to the environment and get used to practice. Try to act like a teammate. The swim team is a big family. We always work together and we always support each other. It doesn't matter if you're a freshman or a senior. The seniors have the extra responsibility to help. There are only a few seniors so it also goes to the junior class.

DE: I want to get away from swimming. Where in Carbondale do you like to hang out?

GO: We always have our swim team parties every weekend where we all get together and have a good time. My favorite place to go is Pinch Penny.

DE: How does Carbondale compare with Nicosia, Cyprus?

GO: It's a lot different. Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus. It's a much bigger town than Carbondale. Carbondale is a student town. Everything is toward student life. I don't want to compare Nicosia to any big cities here in the United States because it isn't anywhere near as big. It's an ordinary town. People go to work. There's no major schools around there. This is a lot different. So many young people in one place has never happened to me. It's a school town. It's awesome.

DE: You're probably asked a lot about Cyprus. What do you tell them?

GO: When I first got here, most people didn't know where Cyprus was. They were like, 'So you're from Greece?' And I was like 'Yeah, I'm from Greece.' Cyprus is an island by Greece and we speak Greek. We're an independent island. I tell them it's a beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea. It's nice. The weather is nice. They're like, 'Why did you come to Carbondale?' I just say that I was recruited. I love it, though.

DE: What do you think about the U.S.?

GO: It's pretty much what I expected it to be. As I told you before, I come from a small place. The U.S. for me was something enormous. Tall buildings, movie stars, Hollywood and all that stuff. Carbondale doesn't really represent the U.S. I've been around and seen places like Chicago. It is what I expected.

DE: How do the people of Cyprus view Americans?

GO: I know people from Cyprus don't have problems with Americans. I've never run into anyone saying that you guys were arrogant or snobs or anything. We do picture America as something enormous, something we've never had the experience of being a part of. From what I understand, people look at Americans differently than someone from their own area.

DE: You speak really good English. Where did you learn it?

GO: I knew how to speak it a little before I came here, but most of it I learned here. My freshman year, every five minutes, I was asking my teammates how to say this and that. My roommates helped me a lot.

DE: Do you ever get teased about your accent?

GO: Always. There are some words I can't pronounce right. They are always asking me to say things.

DE: Since you are a senior, what are your plans for after graduation?

GO: I'm applying to chiropractic schools. I want to be a sports chiropractor. I've been preparing my applications for the schools and hopefully that will work out fine. I want to stay around sports and work with athletes.

DE: Now for the short-answer questions. What is your favorite television show?

GO: "Friends."

DE: Who is your favorite character?

GO: Joey.

DE: Favorite movie?

GO: "Godfather II"

DE: What was the last DVD you bought?

GO: I bought four actually. "Goodfellas," "American History X" and "Shrek." I can't remember the other one.

DE: What was the last CD you bought?

GO: Metallica with the symphony orchestra.

DE: Greatest band ever?

GO: Nirvana.

Reporter Christopher Morrical can be reached at cmorrical@dailyegyptian.com