European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 11, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse One at the most heralded of to sport Eventt runners at twiet tvs of a Modem Day Marathon in Greece. To 19s8 race lakes 13. The fabulous Marathon recalling the drama of Spiridon Louis by de Reavis Start writer r runners ears perk up when they Heartha name Spiridon Louis first of the modern Marathon modern run was initiated on april 10, 1b96, to commemorate the legendary feat of a greek named Philippides. This year s running takes place oct. 13. He brought the news of the persian a seat at Marathon to Athens in 490 . And then Ell Ever dead. A Frenchman. Michel Breal came up with the idea to recreate the run and the greeks saw their National Pride challenged. Spiridon or Spiros Louis is described As a Tail strapping youth or 24 years son of a water seller in Maroussis. A town not far from Athens. Louis was not an Al fete but had done some running Tor the sport of it. He was also a Coffee House Habitude who Felt competed to participate in the race for the Good name of his country. History show that Loula did t make the greek finals but the rules were manipulated and the learn was expanded by one to make him part of the t7-Man greek team. Reports claim Louis had attracted the attention of the greek organizer of the run colonel Papadiamanto Petoos White serving in the a zones today the White skirted Tous Fanella greek Palace guards. The colonel the report claims noticed How quickly Louis returned with the cigarettes he often sent him to etch. Five foreigners also participated in the event. Favored was the Frenchman Lermusiaux. Who took an Early Lead in the race followed by Flack an australian and fake in american a experienced runners reports claim Louis and the other greek runners brought up rite rear. The race was run during the week of greek easier celebrations and the expectations of the nation ran High. The Blue and White Flag was flying from the most Page 16 the stars and stripes Humble huts along the route. A German historian had recently wounded the nation s Pride by claiming that Modem greeks were More slavic than the children of Aeschylus and Plato. The Marathon run. The nation hoped would prove they were still 100 percent greeks Al the 22-Kilometer Mark Lermusiaux had worked out a considerable Lead leaving his closes competitor Flack three Kilometres behind. And at the 28iton�ter Mark after a Long climb Lermusiaux looked so much like lha Winner a Wreath of Flowers was placed on his head by jubilant fans. He overconfident accepted it. Four Kilometres later a was finished burned out. He quit the race. Like a Miracle fit for a Hollywood scriptwriter Spiridon Louie emerged As lha Leader of the pack. He overtook Flack who finally dropped unconscious into the Dusty Road at the a Kil Omeler Mark. Many years later the taciturn Louis would describe the events of the Day by claiming that Allol a sudden he Felt neither pain fatigue nor thirst his Pace became rhythmical and steady almost mechanical and he could on his goal winning the race. When Louis approached the newly built olympic stadium in Athens As the Lead runner shots were fired in the air from a suburban school a pre arranged signal in the event that a greek runner was the front runner. Papadiamant Odous got so carried away that he forgot his duties As a race official and Rode ahead on horseback into the stadium proclaiming the news to the tumultuous crowd of 70,000. Legend has it that someone passed Louis a bottle of Cognac during the course of the run from which he took a mighty guzzle possible but unlikely. Certainly he did not Stop at a Lavema for a Hearty greek breakfast of sheep s cheese and dives As some reported. But these tales illustrate How his run had fired the imagination of his countrymen. It we wound 5 plur when Louis entered the stadium. He had run a 2-Tiour, 58-Minula and 50-Seconcl Marathon. He wore Btu shorts and a White flannel shirt the greek National colors. The reception was monumental roaring shouts thundering applause waving flags and hats thrown into the air. The Crown Prince of Greece ran the last few meters saturday october 11.1986 with Louis and everyone tried to touch the marvelous runner As he went by As if to verify that their dream had come True a greek had won the firs Modem Marathon. Queen Okja of Greece planted a was on toe forehead Mohe son of the water seller and presented him with some of the precious stones she was wearing kneeling before his a Overleen Louis is reported to have said your majesty i am just a i Sullada Anesti Greece has risen " the crowd roared. The whole world was enchanted by the tale of in peasant boy who became a National hero. The Story was retold with much embellishment again end again and even an ode to Spiridon Louis was printed in the newspapers. But soon he was Back to driving water from Maroussis to Athens but in a new Wagon a gift from King George of Greece. After the fabulous run. Louis made news in his country twice. In 1925 he landed in prison for a year for supposedly falsifying papers. He was acquitted. The second time was 10 years later 40 years after his triumphant reception in Athena. Spiridon Louis handed Adolf Hitler an Olive Branch the Symbol of peace in Antiquity during the opening ceremonies of the 1936 Berlin olympics. It was a great propaganda coup for the nazis. The now 64-Yearotd Louis was passed around the Berlin Media. Photos of the period show a Stis strapping figure of a Man with his Bushy moustache and Sun browned face standing beside a smiling hitter. Loulli Tod in 1940 at the age of 68. It s doubtful that he Ever understood that the nazis Ware us tog him. In 1942, Louis son tried in vain to use tha photo of his father with hitter to gain Freedom fix his relatives imprisoned by the German occupational Force. Today Louis is a Symbol of a time when sports was innocent he just ran there were no sponsors no advertising or movie contracts. He s the Granddaddy of the nameless athletes we Slit see appear now end then from the third world who run Cal leaving All the run now technocrats behind athletes that make the sport exciting
