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Spyridon “Spyros” Louis

1873 – 1940

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ΤΙΜΗΣ ΕΝΕΚΕΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΕΣ ΑΘΛΗΤΑΙ ΤΩ ΣΠΥΡΩ ΛΟΥΗ ΠΡΩΤΟ ΝΙΚΗΤΗ ΜΑΡΑΘΩΝΙΟΥ ΔΡΟΜΟΥ Α' ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΩΝ ΑΓΩΝΩΝ ΑΘΗΝΩΝ 1896 ΤΟΔΕ ΤΟ ΜΝΗΜΕΙΟΝ ΑΦΙΕΡΩΣΑΝ ΕΓΕΝΝΗΘΗ ΤΗ 12-1-1873 ΑΠΕΒΙΩΣΕ ΤΗ 26-3-1940 translation: As a Mark of Honour Greek Athletes To Spyros Louis First Winner of the Marathon Race 1st Olympic Games Athens 1896 Dedicated this Memorial Born 12-1-1873 Died 26-3-1940

Spyridon Louis, commonly known as Spyros Louis, was a Greek watercarrier who won the first modern-day Olympic marathon at the 1896 Summer Olympics. Following his victory, he was celebrated as a national hero. A former soldier, Louis was encouraged to try out for the Olympics by his former commanding officer. After progressing through qualifying, he went on to win the inaugural Olympic marathon, beating 17 competitors. Louis later became a police officer and a farmer. Outside of his athletics career, he was arrested for forgery, of which he was acquitted after spending a year in jail. He was pictured on the 2015 Greek commemorative 2 Euro coin.