Greece is set to carve itself a little bit of history at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver which get underway on Friday when father-daughter duo Athanasios and Panagiota Tsakiris compete at the same Winter Olympics for the first time ever. SIG's Graham Wood caught up with the remarkable pair.

Greece may not be troubling the medals table at this year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver but two parts of their small, seven-strong team are guaranteed to make history when the Games get underway on February 12.

For Athanasios and Panagiota Tsakiris, their presence at the 21^st Winter Olympiad doesn't just represent a remarkable achievement in sporting terms, but it also signifies an extra special family moment, not to mention an unprecedented record.

This is because the father and daughter combination will become the first such pair to compete at the same Olympics together, a feat which ensures them a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

It is a story which has captured the imagination of the Greek media, and for once has propelled a sport other that football and basketball into the spotlight in the build up to winter sports' biggest showpiece. And rightly so.

Vancouver 2010 will be the fifth Winter Olympics for record man Athanasios, who at 45 has competed over 600 times in international competitions as a member of the Greek ski team.

Back after an eight-year break, the biathlon and cross-country specialist now heads to Canada with his 19-year-old daughter Panagiota, who will be competing in the Biathlon.

"It's my second Winter Olympics but this time I'm with my dad and I'm very excited," Panagiota told sportingreece.com.

"Even though it doesn't seem strange or unique to me [to be competing next to her father], when I do think about the fact that it's the Olympics it is very special."

Indeed, being a daughter and fellow athlete to her father is nothing new to the ambitious young Physical Education student from Drama, as they are together 24/7.

"To have my father competing next to me has become kind of a routine to be honest because over the past few years we are together all day, every day, living and training together as well as competing."

"He has more experience than any Greek winter sports athlete and helps me so much as a coach. For me this also plays an important role psychologically because he knows me so well.

"So really I have the ideal co-athlete and coach in one - and when you have chosen such a high target to go for the Olympic dream, you can't have a relaxed coach next to you."

For his part, Athanasios, who admits to having practiced on roller-skates in supermarket car parks, will carry the Greek flag at the opening ceremony, before competing in both biathlon and cross-country events. He admitted the lure of competing with his daughter was a key factor in him making a comeback.

"The fact I came back was mainly because I love the sport so much and I also wanted the chance to compete with my daughter," he said.

"After Panagiota competed at Torino in 2006 we made the decision together to try and qualify for Vancouver."

"Our presence is the culmination of four years very hard work. I'm the oldest active athlete and I can assure you I have surpassed my own limits to reach this point."

Panagiota's experience as a 16-year-old in Torino proved a tough introduction to Olympic competition. She came in last place (66^th) in the cross country event.

So what are her expectations this time round?

"This time I'm racing in the biathlon and as it's only my second year I'm still trying to improve my shooting which is not as it should be at the moment," she concedes.

"So I don't have great expectations. I'm simply going to do my best and see where it takes me. For me what is important is that I give 100 per cent and this will represent a success for me."

While her father will lead the Greek team, it will be Tsakiri junior up first as she will compete in the women's 7.5km sprint the day after the opening ceremony on February 13.

"This is not the best of situations because there is a 10 hour time difference and I will be trying to recover from jet lag and getting used to the conditions there," commented Panagiota.

"But I don't feel any pressure about being first for Greece, I'm just excited that I'm going to be there competing."

Like every member of the Greek squad, fewer athletes forgo more than what the Tsakiris duo have had to in order to reach this point. In a sport which is poorly funded and would-be Olympians have to survive on limited sponsorship money as semi-professionals, the road to the Olympic dream is one paved with sacrifice.

Something Panagiota knows only too well. "I think the lack of time I have with friends and relatives is the most important sacrifice," she says.

"You do lose some important moments. I've also missed two semesters of my university degree but the lost time with people I love is probably the worst part.

"Torino in 2006 it was too hard for me because of all the races I had to compete in to get there and all the sacrifices I had to make. But then when I got there I was moved so much and knew it was worth it.

"I was only 16 then and I'm still young, compared to the other athletes, who are in their twenties and thuirties. For me what matters is the participation and to enjoy the atmosphere and experience."

Somehow, "a chip off the old block" doesn't quite do Panagiota Tsakiri justice.