A Tremendous Bowl entrant’s athletic journey started years in the past within the water. In truth, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs would have completed off the defensive facet had it not been for a tragic accident. George Karlaftis He should be goalkeeper for Greece’s greatest water polo staff.
Born and raised in Athens, Karlaftis stated whereas rising up “swimming was a giant factor”. He was “principally at all times” across the water, rapidly changing into a “actually good swimmer”. His father, Matt, prompt that he strive water polo, and he began taking him to observe each night time.
“I began getting actually good and taking part in with older youngsters,” Karlaftis recollects. “I used to be taking part in within the boys’ band after I was 13. Dad put some stress on it.”
The whole lot modified after Matt died of a coronary heart assault when Karlaftis was simply 13 years outdated, simply earlier than he tried water polo with the nationwide staff. Inside 48 hours of the tragedy, her mom, Amy, determined to maneuver the household again to West Lafayette, Indiana, the place she met Matt whereas finding out at Purdue College.
At first, Karlaftis was hesitant to start out soccer as his father suffered a head damage throughout a soccer observe on the College of Miami. However when a coach satisfied him to affix the staff, his pure athleticism was unattainable to disregard. He collected 41 sacks throughout his highschool profession, graduated early, and adopted in his dad and mom’ footsteps by enrolling with Purdue in January 2019.
A real freshman, Karlaftis began all 12 video games for the Boilermakers with a complete of 54 steals and seven.5 sacks. Final 12 months, he marketed for the 2022 NFL Draft, the place he was chosen thirtieth total by Kansas Metropolis within the first spherical. As a rookie this season, he has 33 steals, seven cross deflections, six sacks and two failed saves.
Karlaftis is not the one multisport athlete in his household. His youthful brother Yanni received a youth world championship in judo at age 11 earlier than becoming a member of Purdue as an out of doors defender in 2021.
Should you’re a water fan on the lookout for somebody to assist this 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl, Karlaftis could also be only for you. Tremendous Bowl LVII between the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (16-3) and Philadelphia Eagles (16-3) kicks off Sunday at 6:30 PM EST on Fox.
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