The motherland of democracy, the global centre for research and the birthplace of The Ashes test cricket series aren’t places of immediate commonality. But for Dimitra Gkizani, they’re all places she’s crafted her skill playing basketball.
Currently playing for the Sunbury Jets in Melbourne, the Greek import player is taking in the experience of playing on the other side of the world.
The 24-year-old scored 17 points in the Jets second win for the year, with the centre playing a style that sees her dominate from the middle, both offensively and defensively, as a post player.
Gkizani hadn’t even thought that it was possible to come play in Australia. But with summer and the off season beginning in Greece, the basketball season here was just starting.
She had just played a season in Greece for GAC Eunikos (Athens), PAS Giannena (Ioannina) and represented the national team when she got the text that changed her summer plans.
“I remember I was coming back from practice and I saw Coach Simon Nicholson (Sunbury Jets) texting me,” she told Neos Kosmos.
“I was like ‘wait what?’. I contacted my agent and she told me ‘if you don’t have anything to do this summer, I would really recommend to go and play basketball there. It’s a nice experience, you’re going to see Australia.’
“I just thought, okay I’ll go for it and see how this thing goes.”
Gkizani is from Athens, with her father originally from Chalkida, Euboea and her mother from Andros. She first joined a basketball club at 16, but before that she actually swam for 10 years.
After high school she moved to New York on a scholarship at Roberts Wesleyan University, studying chemistry while also playing basketball for the university in the NCAA second division.
When asked if she mixed with the Greek community there, Gkizani says a little in terms of meeting some people and going to restaurants, but not to any significant extent.
She also said that the timing of COVID was impactful but the entire experience was one to remember forever.
“It was a weird time when I was studying in the States (due to the pandemic),” she said.
“Travelling to Greece and then back to the States, and then not being allowed to go anywhere because of the pandemic.
“So, it was a weird time but it was a lifetime experience. I mean, I grew up both as a person and as a player.”
At a basketball level, the agile and skilful player was a starter from freshman year, which she credits for helping her confidence as a player.
In her junior year, the team won the East Coast Conference Championship for the first time in their program history.
While not being able to reach those heights in later years, the team still reached finals.
“I’m glad I was part of that special group, it’s been good, other than the fact that it was super cold, winters were terrible.”
Now in Australia, Gkizani hopes to meet the biggest Greek community outside of Greece in Melbourne, but has yet to travel to the inner city.
She says she would love to, given she was away from home for five years before heading back last year.
“I know that there are a lot of Greek people that live in Australia, and in Melbourne. So, I would love to get a chance to meet Greek people here.”
“That will be really nice, especially since I’m far away from home.
“I’m not going to lie, it does feel like I’m in a different country.”
She also hears that Oakleigh is the place to go to for all things Greek in Melbourne.