One of the strongest spearfishing teams worldwide is surely Cyprus, with 2016 World Spearfishing Champion George Vasiliou as amazingly strong athlete. Still, this is a typical Mediterranean team, and particularly used to deep waters (Vasiliou won in Syros 2016 diving down to – 60 meters). We had a chat with Stelios Yiangou, Captain and athlete of Cyprus.

ApneaPassion: Euro-African 2019: special situation with non-traditional fishing compared to warmer waters and also fishing starting from the shore…how did you choose the team and please present briefly each athlete?

Stelios Yiangou: As always, we are picking the best from our nationals and also international result play role. Vasiliou and me are, I think, already known in the spearfishing world. The third team member is a young athlete, this will be his first international competition. We always fish with the boat and boatman, but we don’t have problems with adaptation. It will be something different for us as we are used to fish in the deep, but we don’t have problems in the shallow. Swimming from shore is new, but not just for us, as most of teams have competitions and fish in private life with boats. We are well trained and believe that we will manage well this challenge.

AP: Expectations for this competition?

SY: First we will do our best with a short preparation. But, I think that we can adapt quickly to the new conditions and hope for the best. I think we can be in the first five-six teams.

AP: Key elements to be strong in this competition? (physical, tactical, experience in these waters..)

SY: Quick adaptation is the first, possibility of changing tactics is the second, excellent physical shape and to find places for fishing in short distance, but separate from other athletes.

AP: Strongest teams and athletes to look at?

SY: Scandinavian teams as they fish all of their life here, they know species, fish behaviour and conditions. After them as always Spain, Greece our Greek-Italian friend Giacomo de Mola and of course Cyprus.