The Art of Momentum: Inside the Mind of a Modern Athlete
An Interview with George Kouzis
By Ollimono Magazine|26th March 2025
In a world spinning ever faster, few people manage to ride both the literal and metaphorical hills with such energy and honesty as George Kouzis.
A competitive mountain and road cyclist turned sports content creator, George is not only chasing podiums — he’s chasing meaning. With dirt on his tires, a camera in hand, and questions echoing in his mind, George embodies a generation of athletes who are not only training hard but living wide open. This is a story about the art of momentum — not just on two wheels, but in life.
Let’s find out what’s inside the mind of a modern athlete.
Inside the Mind of a Modern Athlete and the Rise of Mountain Biking in Cyprus
“I just followed my sister.”
George’s journey began at age six, tagging along after his older sister to a local cycling academy in Cyprus. “I started riding at Bikin’n Cyprus with coach Mrs. Dimetra Mechaelides,” he recalls. “Back then, doing both mountain and road biking was just what we did. Now, I ride road races mostly for training. My heart is in mountain bike racing, especially XCO.”
Despite multiple national championship titles and international races under his belt, George is refreshingly candid about his self-expectations. “I haven’t had a result that I genuinely feel proud of yet — and that bothers me,” he admits. “But I crave one.”
That hunger, he explains, is what keeps him riding through mental and physical fatigue, even when the path ahead isn’t always clear.
“This is what I wanted — and this is what I have to go through.”
George doesn’t romanticize the grind. He trains with a coach and tries to hit all the lifestyle boxes — nutrition, sleep, recovery — but his reality is messy. As a coach himself, balancing work with athletic goals is a challenge.
“Sometimes miserable times come, and I just remind myself that this is the life I chose,” he says. “And this is what I have to go through.”
It’s that clarity — sometimes elusive, sometimes sharp—that anchors him in difficult moments. But George doesn’t claim to have it all figured out. In fact, he often questions whether he’s on the right path.
“There are times I’m delighted with this life, and other times I envy the more traditional, stable one,” he says. “I try to keep my goals visible and simple, but that’s not always easy. The options are endless — and it’s hard to measure the work versus the reward.”
“Belief is a skill”
That’s one of the best pieces of advice George has ever received — and one he holds close inside the mind of a modern athlete. “You have to build strong habits and train your mind to dig deep when things get hard,” he says. That training applies both on the bike and behind the screen, where George documents his adventures, training routines, and races for a growing digital audience.
He began sharing riding clips on Instagram as a teenager but only discovered its potential in 2021 after meeting fellow cyclist and content creator Andreas Kolokotronis. A crowdfunding campaign for the French race Mountain of Hell opened George’s eyes to the opportunities that come with online storytelling.
Still, social media is a double-edged sword.
“I don’t always align with the demands of social media,” George says. “I give out the raw reality of my situation. That honesty is part of being loyal to my audience, but I understand it’s also one reason I don’t make money off it.”
Despite the pressures to always be “on,” he’s proud that who he is online is the same as who he is off the bike.
“Cycling fits everyone.”
Ask George what makes cycling special, and his voice lights up. “There are so many different types of riding, and so many kinds of riders,” he says. “From competitive racers to people seeking adrenaline or just commuting — it fits everyone.”
It’s not just sport. It’s identity.
“My whole life is built around the bike,” George says. “The friends I’ve made, the collaborations, the highs and the lows — every experience is tied to cycling. I’ve traveled to more than 20 countries just to ride.”
And while he has many favorite places, he says what truly defines a ride is the people around him.
What’s next? The future of mountain biking in Cyprus for George.
George is quiet about future plans—but not because there aren’t any. “I have a massive project ahead, but I’m keeping it to myself for now,” he says. “I want to be sure I have the resources to bring it to life.”
What he is confident about is the growing momentum behind cycling and mountain biking in Cyprus. “We have amazing landscapes and weather to ride all year round,” he says. “It’s up to us to show people what’s out there.”
As for shaping the next generation of cyclists, George believes social media plays a role, but nothing replaces community. “The real influence will come from people who show up in real life and guide young athletes face-to-face.”
No Morning Routine. Just Go.
There’s a quote George gives at the end of our interview that sums him up perfectly: “No morning routine. Just go for it.” That’s how he trains. That’s how he travels. That’s how he creates. And maybe that’s what momentum really is — not a perfect plan, but an unrelenting will to move forward.
Follow George (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok) for more cycling, adventure, and unfiltered life in motion.