Makesportsbetter

In 2020 the company Msb Makesportsbetter celebrated its 36th anniversary, dedicating all its action to the love of sports and its promotion through daily customer service, through the organization of events and competitions in swimming, running and triathlon, through engagement championship but also mass sports. Below we would like to share with you some of our most important moments and contributions to sports, especially in the sport of swimming. We hope you read with pleasure and pleasure the following short stories that outline our small and big successes in the field of sports and sports items. It all started with Football In the winter of 1984, the former professional football player of Ap. Kalamaria and founder of the company Makesportsbetter, then called "Papadopoulos Sporting Goods", decided to open a sports shop with items for running, basketball, walking and of course ... for football. The business started as a store in the neighborhood of Sofouli, Thessaloniki, where in addition to the neighboring market it was often visited by big "stars" of sports, such as Galis, Fasoulas and Tarpley of basketball, etc. Our philosophy since then was that no there was a number on a shoe that we did not have. In fact, our "best" day was when we were serving a customer who was wearing shoe number 52! Swimming was the answer In 1985 marks the year that the swimming pool started Ch. Papadopoulos, son and later successor of Msb Makesportsbetter. At the age of just 3 he took his first swimming lessons at the Poseidon Swimming Pool, Thessaloniki, the neighborhood where he grew up and which he never left. However, the talent in swimming of Christos himself and his brother did not take long to show. Ch. Papadopoulos at the age of 9 received his first medal in the specialty that characterized him: The Front. There was no sport to lose from the age of the academies yet. The truth is that the love of the 2 brothers for swimming became a passion, who often preferred training to holidays and vacations. The 1st Panhellenic, the Successes and the Goals As the years passed, and Christos and his brother Dimitris reached the competition category, the trainings and the goals became more difficult every year. The Panhellenic victories for both of them had become a common phenomenon, as well as the Panhellenic records which were broken one after the other. Christos at the age of 15 participated for the first time in the OPEN National Swimming Championship (Men-Women Category) occupying the 8th place in the final of the 200m Men's Front. The next year at the age of 16, came the first Panhellenic medals in the OPEN Men-Women Category, 3rd in the 100m and 200m. Men's Front. Christos's natural talent, endurance and strength had created an incredible and invincible Prosthiou style, which in English would be called: "Wicked breaststroke style technique." But apart from the successes at the national level, successes at the international level did not take long to come. The 1st medal at the international level came at a Multinational meeting in Prague, where he took 1st place in the Men's 200m Front and 3rd in the Men's 100m Front. This was followed by the 1st place in the Mediterranean Cup in Israel, in the Balkan Youth Games in Yugoslavia, etc., culminating before going to the men's category if it breaks the Record of the Balkan Youth Games that broke in the 200m Front with a performance of 2'.24 ''. age just 17 years old! The successes continued at the World level when at the World Student Championship in China, Christos took 6th place in the Men's final in the 200m Front. But he was not content with just that, Christos was convinced from a young age that he should set a goal to participate in the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004. Training increased, he even decided to move to Kavala following his coach, now competing for N.O. Kavala. The swimming pool had become "2nd house" for Christos and his teammates as a family. However, the hard work and talent showed that they would bring him the coveted participation in the Olympics when in 2002 in the Balkan Men's Games, he achieved a new Panhellenic Men's Record "breaking the barrier" of 2'.20 ''. 00 in Greece for the 200m Men's Front. In the same races he came 3rd in the 400m. M.A., proving once again the impeccable technique in all 4 styles but also its incredible endurance and rhythm. They followed in 2003 the Swimming World Cup in Paris where he took 10th place in the Men's 200m Front. Then, he broke once again the Panhellenic Men's Record with a time of 2.13.18 in a 25-meter pool in Berlin. Christos' love for swimming did not end, it was his whole life, but at the same time with all his successes he managed to remain sparing in his words and humble. Olympic Games As the Olympic year approached, Christos had to consult with his coach to decide which event would most likely give him the coveted participation in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. To clarify, participation for an athlete would come if he reached the Olympic limit in any event within a given period of time set by the Olympic Committee and approved by FINA and at the same time this athlete should have the first ranking in the same event for the last 2 years in Greece. For Christos, there was no doubt about which race was his favorite but also his specialty, and of course we are talking about the 200m Front. It was also logical, as in recent years his presence in this particular race showed that he was closer to qualifying for the Olympics than in the 100m. Anterior. The whole training was based on the 200m, but despite the training and the physical abilities of Christos, the competition from other swimmers was very strong, as it was an Olympic year and as it is known, everyone tries much harder then and the participation of athletes in competitions doubles. The answer and the final "day of crisis" came to the Panhellenic Men's and Women's Open in the summer of 2004. Christos successfully passed the afternoon final in the 200m. and everything showed that it would go well. Unfortunately, however, the intensity of the moment and the longing for a life at the start made Christos's hand slip from the right stretched position during the entry into the water. This "cost" him in time, leaving him in 3rd place on the podium. A dream for which he sacrificed everything for the last 10 years seemed unfulfilled όμως But not for Christos, who had another race to try to qualify for the Olympics ... and of course we are talking about the 100m Front. Yes, it was his second race, preferably in relation to the 200m, but it did not cease to be Front, the style that distinguished him for a lifetime. He may not have felt that he had the speed required for the 100m front sprint, but those who know Christos personally know that he would never give up, even after an obstacle. It is rare and very difficult to be able to "get up" after such anguish, especially when one is called to overcome it and fight during the same games. Of course, you will wonder what happened to the Men's 100m Front. One thing we will tell you, it was one of the games of the night. Many competitors, each with friends and relatives cheering and supporting their own athletes. Christos cool, he had nothing to lose, only to win, he had also passed 1'.04 '' in the 100m in his 200m. He was ready, fast. And so the start was given, this time everything went well, he left first in the water, and then everyone started cheering rhythmically for the front. The race was intense, difficult, everyone was close and everyone was prepared, especially the other 2 opponents of Christos. But Christos was also strong and very stubborn, he would not leave it that day, in that race, in that 100ari! He finished 1st with 1.04.10 and with his ranking in this race for the last 2 years he managed to make the dream of a lifetime come true! It was the reward of the efforts of 10 years and not only. Nothing would seem impossible for Christos anymore. So, the Athens Olympic Games came, with Christos competing in the 100m and occupying the 39th place in the world with 1.04.39. The training continued and did not stop there, and the following year (2006) he became one of the Top 50 swimmers in the world ranking of 25 ara in Prostio. Professional & Student Obligations The years passed and Christos, in addition to the swimming pool, also had student obligations as a medical student at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The reading required a lot but that did not deter him. One day, however, when he visited his father's sports business, his professional future was about to change. While arranging some products in the store, he discovered an advertising brochure with racing swimwear from a well-known swimming company, and wondered if his father could get one. swimsuit for him. Of course, due to the successes of Christos, the many years of experience and presence in the field of sports and with the acquaintances of his father in the field of sports companies, such a collaboration became possible. So Christos started to procure his personal swimsuits through the company. In time he became an expert in materials, in how to measure the body to get the right number and fast but effective in his test method (because the materials of these swimsuits were so sensitive that they could be torn at once). In fact, in the period before his participation in the Olympic Games, after study and research, he developed his own method of correct selection and testing of racing swimsuits, which made him a pioneer and also innovative in his kind worldwide. At a time when racing swimwear was slowly becoming necessary for all swimmers of any level and with the acquaintances and connections he had in the field of swimming both in Greece and abroad, other swimmers began to approach Christos for to get their own swimsuit. His personal service and patent broke, as they led many swimmers to success, which to this day, every day, many generations trust Christos and his method when it comes to buying their racing swimsuit. Christos slowly started working in the family business as orders for swimwear and not only, became a common phenomenon. In fact, it was not uncommon for him to send swimming products abroad, advising the swimmers-clients via teleconference about the product they ordered. This was helped by his helpful and friendly character, his tendency to seek the best and his knowledge of foreign languages. The sports company A. Papadopoulos after 22 years would start, in addition to general sports items and shoes, to have specialization in swimming items, with Christos taking over as store manager and moving the company to the neighborhood he always loved: in area of Poseidon Swimming Pool, at 177 Vasilissis Olgas, So, one September afternoon, everything was ready for the company to open its doors in a new neighborhood with a new fresh brand name Msb Makesportsbetter! Of course, many friends, teammates and neighbors honored this new beginning, as the old would welcome the new and together the experience with the specialization would bring only the best possible service. So the store became 3-storey, with an entire floor dedicated to Christos's favorite sport and the whole family: swimming. There was no swimming product that could not be found in a "diamond" store in the area. It was then that Christos decided to leave Medicine for the time being and engage in Entrepreneurship. The Company Grows As the company's liabilities grew, so did its staffing requirements. So in the family of Msb Makesportsbetter were added friends swimmers, athletes, Christos's brother and graduate of TEFAA Thessaloniki as Sales, Sports and Exercise Consultant, Christos's wife and holder of Masters (M.Sc.) International Management & Design Innovation Marketing and Consultant for the Right Choice of Running Shoes. Christos's father, although he retired in 2009, did not stop coming to the store and helping in his traditional way, as he still does today. The Games, the Triathlon and the Sponsorships Despite the daily 12-hour work in the company, Christos never stopped swimming, continued normally and continues to this day at the age of 34+ and competes with much younger swimmers, as he once was. Reward and success for him is the continuous participation in the finals of the Men-Women OPEN for 19 consecutive years, which only one other male swimmer has achieved. There were participations in OPEN WATER SWIMMING, Open Sea and Swimming Marathon events, such as the participation in the well-known Spetses Mini Marathon, in the Panhellenic Open Sea Championship, in the biathlon in N. Peramos, in Xterra in Vouliagmeni, in Vouliagmeni. a .. His top and moving moment in an open sea race was the participation in the Historic Crossing of the Toroneos gulf, where selected swimmers swim every year from the 1st leg of Halkidiki to the 2nd. Christos finished 1st with a big difference, covering the distance of 25km in 6 hours. As time passed with his wife, who was also the same swimmer with Panhellenic Records and Panhellenic victories, they decided to start running together. It was not long before they took part in 5km and 10km races on asphalt and half marathon on mountain and asphalt. In fact, Christos's wife finished in a race in Kalamaria, Thessaloniki 5th woman overall in 2012 and in the Under Armor City Challenge 4th woman in total in 2016. Christos, on the other hand, came out first in the men in the Under Armor City Challenge of 5km with 18 '. 57 '' in 2016. However, Christos was not satisfied with running in combination with swimming, but wanted to add cycling to his training to take part in triathlon races, which also excited him. Thus came the participations in triathlon competitions in Thessaloniki, Katerini, but also in the Pan-American Triathlon Championship every year (USA TRIATHLON AGE GROUP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS). In fact, in the Pan-American Championship, in 2016, he managed to reach the top 20 triathletes aged 30-34, among 1500 athletes. The specialization and experience in top branded running and swimming products at Msb Makesportsbetter had reached its peak. Customers came to the store to discuss and see up close this wonderful group of athletes who, in addition to good and friendly service, also had knowledge and personal experiences on the issues. In addition to participating in races, came the sponsorships and support of races with social and sports character, such as the Panhellenic Offshore Championship, Swimming races and Triathlon races that take place annually in Katerini etc. Vocational training & experience Professional and athletic successes may have followed one another, but Christos knew he had to decide what to do with his University studies in Medicine. It seemed to him so indifferent now as a field to deal with, but at the same time he could not switch to another department as it had been many years since he had been admitted to university. His wife then helped him decide what he wanted to pursue at university. They decided that it would be best to prepare for the Panhellenic Games at the age of 28 and that the most appropriate in his belief and character was to target departments of Management and Business Administration. The characteristics of the leader at the same time as a team player were evident in his personality, and so after much reading along with long hours of work a day they managed to introduce him to the Department of Business Administration of the University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki. Of course, he did not just enter the school, he attended classes as much as he could, he actively participated in assignments and presentations and so he successfully finished school in 2016, shortly before his wedding. In 2017, he and his wife were introduced to the Department of Clothing Design & Technology, in order to develop their knowledge in materials and textile innovations, continuing their own pioneers in the field of selling sportswear and footwear. Of course, Christos declares every day that he will always play sports and that he will never stop swimming. not only in store but also online now through the eshop: makesportsbetter.com. Ask us and follow us, because we ourselves swim and run

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