Gountoulas
said he and his twin brother Apostolos, four times European champions
and ninth at last year's London Olympics, had decided to no longer
compete for Greece because of funding problems in their crisis-hit
country.
"It's a case of enough is enough, really," Gountoulas told Reuters.
"It was a very difficult decision for both of us, one we have not taken
lightly given that we love this sport and have been competing for 13
years non-stop.
"We've reached the point at which we simply can't continue without
economic support (from the state). It's not a move to make a protest or
to create problems for the federation, it's simply to give the message
that elite athletes simply cannot afford to compete under the current
circumstances."
The 27-year-old twins, who competed in the pairs, have suffered from a
government decision to make drastic cuts in sports funding under their
austerity measures, with more than half of the country's Olympic sports
federations in danger of closing this year.
Greece's world championship-winning water polo team have already seen
their funding cut and the players, most of whom are unemployed, pay for
their own training expenses.
Swimming is also suffering with Greece pulling out of the European
short-course championships at the end of last year for the first time in
16 years due to financial problems, while the Zappeion Swimming Pool in
Athens, a major training centre for Greece's elite swimmers and water
polo players, closed for the winter months because there was no money
for heating oil.
BUDGET DELAYS
Greece, which hosted the 2004 Olympic Games, was supposed to organise
the 2013 Mediterranean Games but the event was moved to Turkey due to
financial concerns.
Like other federations, the rowing body is waiting for the government to confirm its budget for this year.
"All federations are still awaiting confirmation on what budget they
will have from the state for 2013, including ourselves," rowing
federation president Giannis Karras told Reuters.
"We have continued to operate on the basis of last year's budget
minus 20 percent but there are strong indications that the reduction
will be in the region of 60 percent.
"We know that efforts are being made by the sports minister to find a
solution and we are hopeful that a compromise can be reached but the
problem is that there is no time frame yet as to when this will be
finalised."
What makes the decision of the Gountoulas twins harder for the rowing
federation is that it comes at a time when the sport's popularity is on
the rise.
Last year there were a record 514 new athlete registrations from 31
rowing clubs as the international success of competitors such as the
brothers and women's lightweight double sculls duo Alexandra Tsiavou and
Christina Giagizidou - who won Olympic bronze - prompted increased
interest.
"It is really bad news for the national set-up but I understand the
guys and their reasons. I can't criticise them," said Karras.
"The state used to provide funding and jobs in the past but now
athletes are not receiving anything and potential state-organised jobs
are frozen.
"They are not able to cover their basic costs of living and training
as sponsorships are minimal so it doesn't surprise me if I'm honest."
