Spiridon Louis

Spiridon "Spiros" Louis (January 12, 1873 – March 26, 1940) was a Greek water-carrier who won the first modern-day Marathon at the 1896 Summer Olympics, thereby becoming a national hero.

After the Olympics

In 1926, Louis was arrested on charges of falsifying military documents and was imprisoned. After spending more than a year in jail, he was found not guilty, and was acquitted. The affair predictably caused a press uproar.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His last public appearance came in 1936, when he was invited as a guest of honour by the organizers of the 1936 Summer Olympics, held in Berlin. After bearing the standard of the Greek team during the opening ceremonies, he was received by Adolf Hitler and offered him an olive branch from Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, as an, obviously inopportune given the circumstances, symbol of peace.

Related Topics:
1936 - 1936 Summer Olympics - Berlin - Adolf Hitler - Olympia - Olympic Games

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A few weeks before the German invasion of Greece, Louis passed away in his native town of Marousi. Many sports clubs in Greece and abroad still carry his name, as does the main stadium at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex, where the 2004 Summer Olympics were held, as well as the road passing outside (Spiros Louis Avenue).

Related Topics:
German - Athens Olympic Sports Complex - 2004 Summer Olympics

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~