SHEPHERD BOY WON FIRST MARATHON

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28008, 30 June 1956, Page 11

SHEPHERD BOY WON FIRST MARATHON

FAMED OLYMPIC VICTOR'

[Specially irntlcn for “The by JAMES HOULEDCEI

One of the biggest drawcards in the entire Olympic Games schedule at Melbourne will be the marathon run —as it has been ever since the Games were revived at Athens in 1896 by the great French patriot and sportsman. Baron Pierre de Coubertin. It is unlikely, however, that the Melbourne event will reproduce the heart-warming fairy tale behind the record book entry showing the winner of the first Olympic marathon as Spiridon Loues. of Greece. Loues was a young shepherd who followed a hard, tough daily round with his flocks in the hills outside Athens. In much the same way his ancestors had toiled over the 2500 odd years since the ancient Grecian games were regularly held at Olympia, near the river Alpheus.

Spiridon lived a bachelor existence in a tiny. thatched hut. His staple diet was bread, cheese and olives, relieved occasionally with a pot of mutton stew. He was short and stocky, with heavily muscled legs from chasj ing recalcitrant sheep round the rocky heights where he lived From the hills in the distance he could sometimes see Athens. 30 miles off. but he had never been there. Early in 1896. wayfarers told Spiridon Loues of the coming athletic contests in Athens modelled on the ancient Olympic Games, and for which the best sportsmen in the world would come flocking to Greece. The boy's patriotism was roused. He talked incessantly with his neighbours and other travellers of the various events and of the athletes who would uphold the ancient glories of Greece. However, when the Games were officially opened on April 6 by King George of Greece, it was apparent that Ihe faith of Spiridon Loues in the local contestants was sadly misplaced. Fifty thousand Greeks flocked daily to the arena as spectators, but nightly they went home with long faces and mutterings about national disgrace Days went by and not one event was won by a Greek representative.

A Bold Decision Up in the hills Spiridon Loues was disconsolate that his country, the host nation of the Games and the cradle of modern athletics, should put up such a sorry performance. Then, on the last morning of the Olympic Games of 1896. he decided to do something about it. If no-one else would bring glory to Greece, he would do it himself. He knew that the marathon was scheduled to be run that day. Like most Greeks, the shepherd boy had heard of the thrilling origin of this race—one of the most gruelling and

dangerous tests in the whole field of sport. It dates back to 490 8.C., when the legendary hero. Pheidippides. ran some 26 miles from the battlefield at Marathon back to Athens with welcome news of victory over Darius and his Persian invaders. Staggering with exhaustion as he

reached the city streets, tne rur ‘”^ r xv as surrounded by expectant . . nians Suddenly Theidiprides stumbled and fell Lifting himself on one elbow, he cried to the crowd: “Rejoice. ** have won.” Then he fell back dead. Now a race over the same distance run by rheidippides had been included in the revived Games. Spindon Loues knew his own powers of endurance and believed he could Leaving his sheep, he set off for the original little village of Marathon, where the race was tn begin The shepherd boy in his sheepskin vest, homespun trousers and rough working boots created a sensation as he argued with the Greek starter «Colonel Papadiamantopoulosi that he be allowed to compete. Of course such a situation would not be possible at the present Olympics. But rules and red tape were not quite so prevalent in these first Games. after consideration the colonel ruled that the dedicated youth could start in the marathon. Spiridon was unconscious or the stares as he lined up. When the starter raised his enormous revolver and pulled the trigger, he started off at a slow trot that left him after a short distance lagging ignominiously in the rear. Favourite for the marathon uas Lemursiaux of France, but he was closely pressed right from the beginning by the well-fancied Arthur Blake, of the United States, and Ernie black, an Australian running for England. All three were really mile runners and they made the pace a cracker Surprisingly they were able to keep it up lor a large part of the journey. • Lemursiaux was finished at the hallway mark. Flack then took up the paccmakmg and stayed in front until about eight miles from home, when a stitch and blistered feet forced him to : withdraw. . Blake was left in front but Spiridon Inoues was gradually coming up. Greek Army men on horseback, who were acting as couriers, sped the news to ' the Games Stadium in Athens, where I the race finished.

Excitement Grew Excitement grew as word was re- ' ceived that the stocky, dusty liUle figure of Spiridon lx>ues —still in sheepskin coat baggy pants and booU lhal had already covered his feet with ■ blisters—was taking the lead about five miles from the finish. | Greeks along the route and in the ’ staduim went half crazy with delight. I The two Royal princes—George and Constantine —left their seats and raced off to meet the hero. Running proudly •by his side the two princes 'both I towering to six feet five inches) acted as a guard of honour over the last stages for the diminutive shepherd boy. . . They were still with him when, to deafening cheers from 50.000 Greek throats. Spiridon Loues loped to the ; tape an easy winner. The best traditions of ancient i Greece had been upheld. Thankful 1 countrymen heaped gifts on the slightly bewildered shepherd boy. He ' was offered free shaves for life, free restaurant meals. free clothing. Spiridon Loues took the fame and adulation for 24 hours, but pointed out he had no need of the gifts up in his hillside cabin. Soon he was on his way back, trotting out of the city and : up to the hills in the same garb he | wore on the way down.

"He was a shepherd again,** It has been said. “But for a day he had joined the gods." Spiridon Loues never raced again—but his feat lived on to become almost a legend of the Games. In 1936 he made a "comeback" when he visited the Berlin Olympics as a guest of the organisers. He is believed to have died in Athens during World War 11.

REHABILITATION OF THE HANDICAPPED

NEW YORK. Representatives of 24 non-govern-mental organisation* attended a ConI ference of World Organisations Interested in the Handicapped at United Nations Headquarters recently. Durinc | the two days of meetings, several I recommendations were made designed to help the United Nations and its I specialised agencies to work out a co- | ordinated international rehabilitation I programme.