As Hellenic Daily News has already written, the name of the Greek-American top athlete of American football and NFL champion, George Karlaftis, was recently heard as shortlisted for the title of Grand Master of Ceremonies of this year's great Greek parade for the Greek independence that will take place on the 5th Avenue in New York, on Sunday, April 14, and this was just confirmed!
Eva Metis Koutoumanou
As announced during yesterday's gathering Panomogeneiaki at Stathakeion Center in Astoria, on Thursday, March 21, George Karlaftis, in his communication with the vice-president of the Parade Committee, Yiannis Stroumbakis, confirmed that he will be present both at the 5th Avenue parade, on Sunday, April 14, and at the Ceremony Masters' Dinner, which will take place the day before, on Saturday, April 13, at the Hilton Hotel, Manhattan.
Who is the promising athlete George Karlaftis?
George Karlaftis was born on April 3, 2001 in Athens and grew up in Psychico until 2014 when he moved to the United States, at the age of 13, along with his American mother Amy, after the death of his Greek father, Matthew (Mathaios) Karlaftis, who was a professor at the National Technical University of Athens.
In Greece, George played with the Greek national junior water polo team as goalkeeper, winning a bronze medal in an international tournament, while he was also a player of the Panathinaikos water polo team.
After his father's death, his mother Amy decided to return with George and his brother, John, to her hometown Lafayette, Indiana.
There, teenager George started his involvement with the American football, in the position of defender and more specifically in the defensive end, after trying other sports such as basketball and athletics.
As a teenager in the US, George attracted the interest of major NCAA programs, but he chose Purdue, which was close to his home. In his first season he played in all 12 games with the Boilermakers, averaging 54 tackles and 7.5 sacks, impressing everyone.
After a difficult year in 2020, due to coronavirus, the top was now one-way for George Karlaftis as in 2021, he was declared a member of the best defensive team by both the coaches and the media.
Next came the Kansas City Chiefs who selected him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, at No. 30.
In 2023, George became only the second Greek, after Chris Maragos, to win the Super Bowl, and win the US American Football Championship, the NFL.
In 2024, playing again in the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs, he became the first Greek to win the championship for the second time in a row, making many to talk about the next "Greak Freak", as his coach calls him because of his Greek origin and his top performances.
With George stating that "As a characterization it is very honorable. What Giannis Antetokounmpo has done, not only for himself but also for his family and for Greece, is huge. To be compared to John is a great honor. I haven't realized it yet."
Down-to-earth, smiling, friendly, top athlete and a very strong kid who learned and fought with the "hard" face of life from the age of 13, when he lost his father and came to America leaving behind everything he knew and loved until then, his friends, his team and water polo - the sport where he stood out with his performance since he was a child.
With every appearance, George Karlaftis makes us proud and happy for him and for his Greek origin and his presence in the great parade of New York, as Grand Master of Ceremonies, will give a new breath as with his course so far he represents, in the best way, the solidarity and unity of Greece and America, something that is also an element of the great Greek parade for the independence of our nation, in the center of the American metropolis, in Manhattan, New York.
