In Alkima Athens, we introduce our guests to a modern, comfortable way of living in the center of Athens
eet the owners of Alkima Athens; two passionate athletes who envisioned a modern hotel experience that revolves around fitness, wellbeing, and life balance!
Meet Margarita
Margarita Kontzia was a swimming champion in Greece for seven consecutive years. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education at Demokritos University of Thrace, delivering a thesis on Baby Swimming. Using her education and research, Margarita was a trailblazer in Greece; starting in 1999, she became the first person to teach baby swimming in the country. She is also the founder and owner of Ydria, which specializes in baby swimming. Both an experienced baby swimming instructor and a certified trainer for new teachers, she is Austswim’s presenter in Greece. She is a scientific collaborator at Demokritos University in the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, with teaching experience in baby swimming, recreation, and swimming lessons. She gives lectures on international physical education, sports, and baby swimming at pediatric conferences.
Meet Konstantinos
Born in 1974 in Athens, Konstantinos Karakatsanis is a physical education professor and graduate of the Kapodistrian University of Athens. He also owns a second bachelor’s degree in Sports Organization and Management from the University of Peloponnese. He holds a master's degree in Exercise & Quality of Life from the Democritus University of Thrace, while he also has a Ph.D. from the University of Peloponnese. For many years (1993-2004), he was champion of Greece and the Balkans in the 1500m, when he also achieved one of the best performances of all time in Greece. In 2011, he finished the challenging super-marathon "Spartathlon," 246 kilometers in 33 hours and 14 minutes, and he remains a lifelong athlete participating in marathon races. With several years of experience as a physical education teacher and a coach, he has helped many athletes achieve their goals.
