Sometimes Taking a Few Steps Back Is Part of the Game
Sometimes taking a few steps back is simply part of being an athlete.
One month ago, I underwent knee surgery. It wasn’t a decision I made overnight. It was the result of 2–3 years of dealing with recurring injuries, with the last nine months being the most challenging.
For a long time, I tried to keep training and racing while managing the symptoms. Like many athletes, I always believed I could find a way around the problem. But eventually, I realized that if I wanted to return healthy and perform at my full potential, I needed to address the root cause rather than continue managing the consequences.
After another MRI and several discussions with doctors and physiotherapists, we discovered that the issue dated back much further than I expected. Six years ago, I underwent ACL reconstruction surgery. Over time, a rotational instability had developed in the graft, something that occurs relatively frequently in these cases. As the years passed, that instability also led to additional wear and damage inside the knee.
Together with my surgeon, Dr. Nikos Koukoulias, we decided it was time to address the problem properly through a LET procedure and repair the damage that had accumulated over the years.
The day I made the final decision was surprisingly emotional.
Not because I was afraid of the surgery. In fact, fear was probably the last thing I felt.
What I felt most was relief.
Relief that I was finally taking a step toward solving the problem. Relief that there was a clear path forward. Relief that I would eventually have the opportunity to perform at 100% again.
I remember my final training sessions before surgery very clearly. Almost as if I wanted to hold onto them a little longer.
Two days before surgery, I spent 5.5 hours on the bike. The day before, I completed 6 × 15 minutes at FTP. I knew that for a while, sessions like these would no longer be part of my daily life, and that realization was difficult to accept.
At the same time, I knew it was the right decision.
The most challenging part of this past month wasn’t physical.
It was mental.
As athletes, training becomes part of our identity. We organize our days around it. We measure progress through it. We connect with ourselves through it.
Suddenly, I found myself unable to do the thing I love most.
Watching other athletes train, race, and pursue their goals while I focused solely on recovery wasn’t easy. Some days were harder than others.
Fortunately, I had incredible support throughout this process. Working with Kai Engbert, the sports psychologist of the adidas Terrex team, helped me navigate this transition far more smoothly than I expected. It didn’t make the challenge disappear, but it helped me see recovery as part of the journey rather than an interruption to it.
The first week
The first week after surgery was probably the hardest.
I was wearing a brace extending all the way up to my hip and could barely move my leg. Most of my days were spent lying down. For someone used to spending countless hours running in the mountains, it felt like an entirely different world.
Instead of focusing on what I couldn’t do, I tried to focus on what I still could.
I spent time reading and learning more about sports science, physiology, coaching, nutrition, and performance. I also dedicated more time to the athletes I coach through Paradeisopoulos Coaching.
That gave me a real sense of purpose during a period when it would have been easy to feel disconnected from the sport. Even though I couldn’t train myself, I still felt connected to the progress and goals of the athletes I work with.
After the first week, I gradually started introducing activities back into my routine: upper-body strength work, hand cycling, later one-legged cycling, and by the end of the first month, swimming.
Swimming was something I had been looking forward to. Having a background in the sport made the transition easier and allowed me to feel active again without placing unnecessary stress on the knee.
The goal wasn’t performance. The goal was simply to keep my body working, support the recovery process, and maintain a positive mindset.
The people beside me
Recovery is never an individual effort, and I feel incredibly grateful for the people who have supported me throughout this first month.
First and foremost, my family. During moments like these, you truly realize how important it is to have people by your side every day.
My coach, Addison Smith, who supported me from the very beginning and helped coordinate with the rest of my support team.
Kai Engbert for his guidance on the mental side of recovery, and Meredith Terranova for her nutritional support throughout the process.
My physiotherapist, Vasilis Georgoulas, with whom we still have a lot of work ahead. In many ways, this is only the beginning.
And of course, Dr. Nikos Koukoulias for the excellent work he did during the surgery.
Finally, I want to thank the entire adidas Terrex team. Even though this is my first year with the team, they stood by me from day one. That says a lot about the people behind the brand and the culture they have built.
Over the past month, I’ve also had the opportunity to spend more time on things that often get pushed aside during a normal training season. Reading books and research papers. Learning more about coaching, nutrition, and psychology. Working with my athletes. Continuing to grow, even while temporarily standing still.
If there is one thing I hope someone takes away from this article, it is this:
When you’re going through a difficult period, try to find something that brings you joy. Something that gives purpose to your day. Something that helps you move forward, even when you can’t do the thing you love most.
For me, that has been learning, coaching, the people around me, and the recovery process itself.
One month has passed. There is still a long road ahead, but I feel confident that I’m moving in the right direction.
This is only the first chapter.
Stay tuned for the next update, where I’ll share more about the next phase of my recovery journey.