Spyros Louis
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Spyridon Louis (1873 - 1940)

Spyridon (Spyros) "Σπυρίδων" Louis aka Λούης
Born in Marousi, Greecemap
Son of and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married 7 Apr 1897 in Greecemap
Father of
Died at age 67 in Marousi, Greecemap
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Profile last modified | Created 21 Jul 2016
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Biography

Notables Project
Spyros Louis is Notable.

Spyros Louis was a Greek water carrier who won the first modern-day Olympic marathon at the 1896 Summer Olympics. Following his victory, he was celebrated as a national hero.[1]

Σπυρίδων Λούης [Spyridon Louis] was born on January 12, 1873 in Amarousi (now Marousi), Greece.[2][1] He was the 5th child of Athanasios Louis and Kalomira.[3] (Note that this date is as-recorded on his tombstone. Greece converted to Gregorian calendar in 1923. If this date is Gregorian calendar, then it corresponds to 31 Dec 1872 in the Julian calendar.)

Spyridon attended the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. He competed in the marathon. He was not favored to win this event, for he had only placed 5th in the Greek trials. He, however, came away with the gold medal in the marathon with a time of 2:58:50, about 7 minutes faster than the next person. He was Greece's only 1st place finish in a track and field event at the 1896 Olympics.[4] [5]

After the Olympics, Spyridon did not race again and stayed out of the spotlight. He was, however, a guest of honor at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. [4] Here Spyridon described the moment after winning the marathon:

"That hour was something unimaginable and it still appears to me in my memory like a dream. People were calling my name. Twigs and flowers were raining down on me. Everybody was calling out my name and throwing their hats in the air."[5]

Spyridon married Eleni (last name unknown) on April 19, 1897. Their first child, Panagiotis was born in 1898. They went on to have 2 more boys, Georgios and Nikolaos.[3]

Spyros Louis died on 26 March 1940. He was buried at Amarousion Cemetery, Athens, Greece.[3][2]

Research Note

Spyridon and Eleni had a daughter in law Eutychia Louis, living in 1989 in the Greek village of Amaroussion. At that time, she held the silver cup that Spyridon received as the marathon race winner.[3]

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 Wikipedia (English): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyridon_Louis
  2. 2.0 2.1 Find a Grave (has image), Find A Grave: Memorial #43394138 (accessed 26 August 2023), Memorial page for Spyridon “Spyros” Louis (12 Dec 1873-26 Mar 1940), citing Amarousion Cemetery, Athens, Regional unit of Athens, Attica, Greece; Maintained by J. Colin Clark (contributor 47094715).
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Martin, David E.; Gynn, Roger W.H. The Olympic Marathon. Human Kinetics, 2000. p.17-18.
  4. 4.0 4.1 http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/lo/spyros-louis-1.html
  5. 5.0 5.1 Wallechinsky, David; Loucky, Jaime. The Complete Book of The Olympics 2012 Edition. Aurum Press, London, 2012. p. 138.




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Spyridon Louis
Spyridon Louis



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