ATHENS - 29 JUN 2018 - Alexis Batrakoulis, the GRAFTS Personal Training Education Director made history yesterday, 28 June 2018, by winning the 2018 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year Award, the so-called 'Oscar' of Fitness professionals, a distinction that has been awarded by the world's largest organization for fitness, IDEA Health & Fitness Association, over the past 20 years.
The first European Personal Trainer ever to receive the award
This industry distinction is reserved for Personal Trainers with a multi-year international career at the highest level, recognized work and a rich resume. Alexis was also one of the three 2017 finalists, and has now become the first European Personal Trainer ever to receive this award. The ceremony took place in San Diego, California, at the 2018 IDEA World Convention, the world's largest conference for Exercise Professionals, bringing together 14,000+ professionals from 50+ countries.
Alexis can display an impressive career over the past 23 years, with excellence, ethos, innovation, high standards and numerous distinctions, both as a Personal Trainer and as a Fitness professionals tutor.
More specifically, Alexis Batrakoulis is a graduate of the Dept of Physical Education and Sport Science of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, with a specialization in Indoor Sports Activities, has a MSc in Exercise and Health from the Dept of Physical Education and Sports Science of the University of Thessaly, Greece, with a thesis in Exercise and Obesity, and is a PhD candidate at the same Dept in the field of Exercise and Obesity, as a member of the Laboratory of Biochemistry, Physiology and Exercise Nutrition. He is also certified in over 20 different specialties from the world's leading fitness organizations (ACE, ACSM, NASM and NSCA).
In addition, he serves as an appointed member in Technical Expert Committees and International Working Groups for Fitness education in Europe and the United States, through EuropeActive, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). In addition to being the Personal Training Education Director of GRAFTS, whose is also a graduate, he is professionally active both as a Personal Trainer and as an International Educator who delivers his own specialized training seminars on exercise and obesity in 30 countries worldwide in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America.
This award is a great honor for GRAFTS and his country and a significant recognition for Alexis, who is now considered one of the best ambassadors of Greece in the world of exercise and health, demonstrating that passion, hard work, patience and continuous self-improvement are rewarded.