Spiridon Louis, a Greek athlete semidesconocido humble, was the star of the first Games modern era. His victory in the Olympic marathon in 1896, commemorating the deeds of the soldier Pheidippides, saved Hellenic pride, made him a national hero and his life changed forever.
The ancient Olympic Games were banned by Emperor Theodosius I in 394 AD and considered a pagan ritual. Fifteen centuries later, Pierre Fredi, Baron de Coubertin, proposed rescue and peacekeeping pedagogical values \u200b\u200bof sport in ancient Greece, which led him, not without difficulties, to establish the modern Olympics, who would live the first edition in Athens in 1896.
In parallel, the French historian and linguist Michel Bréal proposed the creation of an endurance race that bore the name of the legendary battle of Marathon (490 BC) With it, commemorated the efforts of the soldier Pheidippides, who according to legend, ran the 40 kilometers separating the population of Athens announce the victory of the Athenians over the Persians, falling dead shortly after arrival. In Europe had already taken place long-distance running, but no one had linked the name of Marathon to these tests. Bréal personal friend of Baron de Coubertin, suggested to include it in the first Games, offering to give a silver cup to the winner, in memory of the feat of Pheidippides. Since then, the marathon would be considered the most important athletic event of the competition.
The results were not being good for the Greek athletes in the first Olympics of the modern era, since they had not achieved so far no wins. The Americans dominated the athletic, with nine wins in eleven races contested so far. Wounded in his pride, the last chance was in the marathon, which was to travel the 40 kilometers between the cities of Marathon and Athens.
The logic indicated that there were many chances that a local beat in this test, as 14 of the 18 participants were Greeks, although the four foreigners were athletes of international standing. At two hot afternoon April 10, 1896, after the opening speech of the mayor of Athens, the 18 brave as they marched from the Bridge Marathon. The starting signal was given by Colonel Papadiamantopoulos, mentor of several Greek soldiers, including our protagonist, Spriridon Louis.
Hellenic pride Salvador
The first news came through messengers, who followed the race on a bicycle or on horseback, were not very hopeful as at kilometer 16 led the test three of the four foreign athletes (Australian Edwin Flack, Albin Lermusiaux French, and American Arthur Blake). The latest news received by the 70,000 spectators who packed the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens was that Edwin Flack walked alone in head and near the stadium, which caused widespread disillusionment. Suddenly, to the surprise and clamor of the spectators, began to take hold the rumor that a local runner had taken the lead of the test. Moments later, Colonel Papadiamantopoulos began to ride in the stadium and confirmed the news: the winner was coming ... and it was a Hellenic athlete.
Spiridon Louis, who was not among the favorites, went first to the stadium to cross the finish line as winner with a time of 2 hours 58 minutes 50 seconds, between the cheers of spectators among whom was the Crown Prince Constantine who, count according to the chroniclers of the period, down from the stands to accompany him on his trot during the last minute. After the race, the winner made his famous statement honoring Pheidippides: "Rejoice, citizens have prevailed." With its stunning victory saved Hellenic pride and went on to be a great national hero. Spiridon Louis's life completely change thereafter.
later emerged that the three foreign athletes marching in front of the race had fainted by not knowing how to regulate their forces, went too fast and paid recklessness. Lermusiaux came out ahead and alone in the middle of the race, but soon began to stagger exhausted unable to continue the march. This sorry state was overtaken by Flack, who had made a huge effort to catch up. Close and the victory, just four kilometers from the finish, also began to tumble and raving attacked a spectator who sought his assistance. Finally, second and third place went two Greek athletes (Charilaos Vasilakpos and Spiridon Belok), although the latter was disqualified after admitting part of the journey traveled by carriage, passing the third-place finish at the Hungarian Gyula Kellner, the only outsider who completed the test. Only nine athletes completed that historic race.
athletic career
Short
Born January 12, 1873 in the village of Maroussi near Athens, in the midst of a very humble family, Spiridon Louis had to be put to work from very young, but we can not determine for sure if he was pastor, mailman or seller of water (at that time the city of Athens did not have a potable water system), because the versions of your profession are very different. Its preparation had been limited as an athlete, yet they showed some innate powers for the race. was selected to participate in the first edition of the Olympic Games by Colonel Papadiamantopoulos, his superior in the military, aware of his athletic ability after seeing him excel in the military marches. Louis was preparing through prayer and, according to comments at the time, spent the night before the Olympic marathon on his knees in the light of the candles offered to the icons and eating dried figs. After
crowned at the 1896 Games as a national hero, and despite not re- compete in any other race of importance, was filled with all kinds of hospitality and gifts, and to various shops, hairdressers and restaurants offered free services for years. He also received a property of the Greek government, as well as a horse and cart to carry water to their people. After having caused the delirium in his country and an unusual interest in the rest of the world are very few news of his whereabouts since that time.
the Olympic movement recognition came 40 years later, when he was appointed Honorary Chairman of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he was treated with all kinds of attention. Four years later, on March 26, 1940, died at 67 years of age. But his myth has continued and even enlarged, with the passage of time, especially in Greece. The best proof that his home country will not forget is that when Athens once again host an Olympic edition in 2004 was named the new Olympic stadium with the name of Spiridon Louis, the first hero of the modern Olympic Games, the winner of first major marathon history, the Greek who won this event 2,400 years after Athens defeated the Persian army at the plains of the same name.
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