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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/run-first-olympic-marathon

Who won the first modern Olympic marathon, in Athens in 1896?

Spyros Louis, a Greek shepherd.

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  1. Johnny Hayes, an American
  2. Spyros Louis, a Greek shepherd ✔
  3. Dorando Pietri, an Italian

Why: The 1896 race ran from Marathon to Athens, about 40 kilometers. Louis took the lead midway and held it, and the home crowd erupted when a Greek runner reached the stadium first.

Huh, didn't know that: The race was based on the legend of Pheidippides, a messenger said to have run from Marathon to Athens with news of a victory.

The dad joke
Spyros Louis was a shepherd, so after he won, everyone had herd of him.
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References

Answer: Spyros Louis, a Greek shepherd. The 1896 race ran from Marathon to Athens, about 40 kilometers. Louis took the lead midway and held it, and the home crowd erupted when a Greek runner reached the stadium first.

  1. Olympedia: 1896 Summer Olympics, Marathon, Men www.olympedia.org/results/56017
    Midway through the race, Spyros Louis, a Greek shepherd, took the lead and maintained it to the end.
    Checked 2026-10-12.

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