Stephania Haralabidis is a Greek and American water polo player currently playing for NC Vouliagmeni and the U.S. national team. She is the only left-hander on the USA roster, 2016 NCAA Champion, and Cutino Award winner. Stephanie Haralabidis won Gold Medal in Water polo FINA World Aquatics Champion in 2019.
She has led Team USA with 22 goals at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima as a part of her long list of achievements. She has won the twice gold medal at FINA Water Polo World League in 2018 and 2019. She also won a gold medal at FINA Women’s Water Polo World Cup in 2018.
Haralabidis has competed on both the junior and senior national teams for Greece. Won a gold medal at the 2011 European Junior Championship in Madrid, Spain. Won another gold at the 2012 Youth World Championships in Perth, Australia. Won gold at 2014 European U19 Championship in Ostia, Italy. She also won a bronze medal with the senior team at 2012 FINA World League in Changshu, China
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up with Stephania Haralabidis to talk about the secret to success, diet, and exercise routine.
Namita Nayyar:
You are the 2016 NCAA Champion and Cutino Award winner, 2019 World Champion in Water polo. Walk us through your spectacular journey and share what draws you the most about the sport?
Stephanie Haralabidis:
For me the journey is all about the people I go through it with. What drew me to the sport is the comradery and team dynamic, finding a sport where my sister and I can work together was something that really appealed to me. I have been fortunate to have had really great coaches in my life. My work ethic and drive motivated me to fight for a spot on the women’s senior national team. My 2016 water polo season is one that I will never forget. My teammates and I worked so hard in the off season to ensure that we could put forward our best performance when it counted. Winning the NCAA tournament was a moment that I will cherish forever. I am so grateful for the Cutino Award, to me it was the perfect end to a decade of hard work. It also motivated me to begin my next decade on the women’s senior national team. Winning the 2019 World Championships is the highlight of my water polo career. I am so fortunate to work with such an incredible group of people. Our success is reflective of the positive culture and the village that supports us.
Namita Nayyar:
What motivated you to take it up professionally?
Stephanie Haralabidis:
Being given the opportunity to train and compete at the highest level was something that I could not pass up. In Greece it is common to be a professional player from a young age. At the age of 15 I was on a professional Greek club team where we competed with the top teams in Europe. I was invited to my first national team at the age of 15 where I competed with countries all over the world.
Namita Nayyar:
Introduce us to a day in your life. Your morning begins with.
Stephanie Haralabidis:
My mornings begin with a healthy, nutritious breakfast that consists of a protein smoothie to help me get started with the day. I then head downstairs to my home gym and begin a workout that helps me build muscle and stay in shape during this quarantine. Then I get on the exercise bike for 20 to 30 minutes and then jump into the pool. I swim for an hour then pass and shoot with a fellow water polo player.
I am currently studying for my MBA in Business Intelligence and Analytic Management, so I have to study and do homework most of the day. Time management is the key to completing all my essential work for the day, combining workouts with graduate school.
I really enjoy cooking. I really like cooking my grandmothers authentic Greek recipes.
Full interview is continued on next page
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