Spyridon Louis

Spyridon Louis was born in the town of Marousi, north of Athens, into a poor family. His father sold mineral water in Athens, which at the time lacked a central water supply, and Spyridon helped him by transporting it. He also worked as a shepherd and a farmer. He served in the Greek Army during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897. He was encouraged by his former commanding officer, Colonel Papadiamantopoulos, to try out for the Olympics. He participated in the second qualifying race for the marathon, two weeks before the Games, and placed fifth. He was selected to represent Greece in the Olympic marathon, which was the most anticipated event of the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896. The marathon was inspired by the legend of Pheidippides, who ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory over the Persians in 490 BC. The race started in Marathon and ended at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, covering a distance of about 40 kilometers. Seventeen runners from Greece and four other countries took part in the race. Louis ran in his traditional fustanella skirt and leather shoes. He was not among the favorites, but he managed to overtake the leading runners and enter the stadium first, to the delight of the Greek crowd. He finished the race in 2 hours, 58 minutes and 50 seconds, becoming the first Olympic marathon champion and a national hero. He was congratulated by King George I of Greece and offered many gifts and honors, including a lifelong free shave at the barber shop, a carriage and an olive grove. He modestly declined most of them and returned to his simple life. He later became a police officer and a farmer. He married Eleni Gkika and had four children. He died of intestinal cancer in 1940, at the age of 67. He was buried in his hometown of Marousi, where a statue of him stands in the main square. His Olympic victory is still celebrated in Greece as a symbol of national pride and athletic achievement.