Spyridon Louis

Spyridon Louis (Greek Σπυρίδων Λούης, nickname also Spyros; born January 12, 1873 in Maroussi in Athens, † March 26, 1940 in Maroussi in Athens ) was a Greek long-distance runner, and the first winner of the specially for the Olympic Games in 1896, created in Athens Marathon.

The son of a farmer was water carrier by profession. He was of Papadiamantopoulos, his commanding officer in his military service, asked to participate in a preliminary run, which took place about two weeks before the Games. There, Louis was in a time of 3:18:27 hours Fifth ( winning time: 3:11:27 hrs ) and counted now among the thirteen Greek runners who should uphold the honor of the host country on the run from Marathon to Athens, the had remained in the course of the game still without a win at the athletics competitions.

Against them were four foreign participants, of which only the Hungarian Gyula Kellner had previously gone the long route before. Three of the four foreign participants, successful middle-distance runner, sat down after the start quickly to the top, but gave ground on odometer readings, 23, 34 and 37. Louis had at kilometer 33 of the last remaining of the three, the Australian Edwin Flack, reconditioned and placed at the top.

In this run already prepared their own drinks were allowed, of which the Greeks made even use. The official report states: As Spyros Louis passes from Maroussi at an inn in Pikermi, he drinks a glass of wine, asked about the front runners and insured with certainty that he would reach and overtake. Louis ' grandson denies this version, but claimed that his future father would have given him 10 km before the finish a glass of cognac.

Between km 20 and 30 of the Frenchman Albin Lermusiaux and the Americans Arthur C. Blake had to give up because they had taken up with the pace. Only Flack was still 33 km to Louis before, but then suffered a dizzy spell and also got out of the race. The way was now clear for Louis, who wins with eight minutes ahead of his compatriots Charilaos Vasilakos and Spyridon Belokas the marathon. On the last lap, in the newly built Olympic Stadium in Athens, he was accompanied by Crown Prince Constantine and Prince George. The only remaining foreigners, Gyula Kellner, reached first as the fourth goal, but was set after the disqualification of the third party who had covered a portion of by wagon, to third place. Spyridon Louis needed for the 40 km long route 2:58:50.

Louis was now a national hero. Like many of the previously ausgelobten gifts he actually was is unclear. From his home village, to which he retired, he received a small piece of land and a modest pension. A silver cup, which he received as a prize, was in April 2012, his grandson at Christie's auction in London; it was acquired for 541 250 British pounds from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation -.

An official competitions he never took after his Olympic victory in part again. In 1926, he was to have falsified military documents on the charge, detained, but acquitted in prison after more than a year. He had his last public appearance as a guest of honor at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Just four years later he died the age of 67 of a heart attack.

Many sports facilities and sports clubs in Greece and the rest of the world are named after him, including the stadium in the Olympic Sports Complex Athens Olympic Stadium Spiridon Louis.