Spyros LouisPrint Page 
The sculpture commemorates Spyros Louis, winner of the first Olympic marathon in 1896.
As the winner of the first Olympic marathon at Athens in 1896 Spyridon(Spyros) Louis's place in sporting history is assured. Having placed only fifth in one of the Greek trial races, he was not favored to win the Olympic title but his unexpected triumph gave Greece its only victory in a track & field athletics event at the 1896 Olympics Games and Louis was accorded the status of a national hero.
Despite the acclaim, Louis returned to his village of Amarousi, where he worked as a shepherd and mineral water seller, and he never raced again. He later became a rural police officer, but lost his job when he was imprisoned on charges of falsifying military documents in 1926. He spent more than a year in jail before his trial on 28 June 1927, when was acquitted. He remained an Olympic legend and was a guest of the Organizing Committee at the 1936 Games in Berlin. The 2004 Olympic Stadium was built in Amarousi, and named after him.
Location
| Address: | The Grand Parade, Brighton-Le-Sands, 2216 |
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| State: | NSW |
| Area: | Foreign |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -33.960287 Long: 151.156784 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Sculpture |
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| Monument Theme: | People |
| Sub-Theme: | Sport |
| Artist: | Pavlos Kougiomtzis |
Dedication
| Approx. Monument Dedication Date: | September-2000 |
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Spyros Louis
Greek Gold Medallist in marathon run
1st Olympiad
Athens 1896
(Inscription in Greek)
"Fair Play"
Donated by : Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation S.A.
September 2000
Mayor City of Rockdale : Geoff R. Hedge
(Inscription in Greek )
Under the auspices :
• Hellenic - Australian Chamber of Commerce of Athens
• Aktion Group of Companies
