A Gold Medal for the sake of a Beloved

Love is undoubtedly one of the most profound emotions know to man. It is a variety of different feelings. It can refer to uncontrollable emotion of a strong natural attraction towards someone. Love is a personal attachment which grows from the time of birth of a child. However, when the concept of love is discussed, it is usually the romantic relationship that gets the most attraction. The notable playwright Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet is a story of love. Shahjahan, the Moghul emperor had the Taj Mahal built as a sign of love for his wife. But love does exist in all its fury and passion and attraction and force and feelings and sentiments in the hearts of even the common man. There is no gauge or yardstick or any other form of measurement by which one could differentiate the passion of love between different couples from the rich or the poor.

Such was the case with Spyridon “Spyros” Louis.

Louis was born to a poor peasant family at Marousi in the suburbs of Athens. He spent most of his youth carrying water and helping his father who worked as a water carrier. That was the source of the income to support the family. Louis would cover long distances daily while sporting jugs of water on his shoulders. Later, when he served in the military, his stamina and athleticism impressed his superiors. But it was his love for a woman and not his strength that motivated him to take part in the first modern-day Olympic Marathon at the 1896 summer games. He simply wanted to impress the prettiest girl in Marousi: Helen.  

Louis almost didn’t make it to the Olympics. Owing to his inexperience in organized athletic events, he finished fifth in the qualifying race. However, fortunately he could take part in the marathon as Greece being the host nation could register more athletes than any other nation, a tradition that continues till today.

The local fans were waiting eagerly for the marathon. Firstly, because of its legendary messenger Pheidippides who ran from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce the Athenian victory in the battle of Marathon and secondly, an American athlete had won the gold medal in the discus throw, a most revered event of the ancient Olympic Games.

The heavy favourites were a Frenchman and an Australian. Both had won gold medals in the 800 meter and 1500 hundred meter events. During the marathon, both men collapsed, unable to continue, while Louis prevailed. When Louis approached the Panathenaic Stadium and the finish, the 80,000 Greek fans went delirious. He had to be rescued by King George I’s entourage and delivered to the safety of his dressing room.

After the epic victory, King George I who was the king of Greece at that time was so proud that he offered Louis any prize he desired. What Louis asked for came as no surprise to those who knew him: he asked for a donkey-drawn carriage to aid him and his father in carrying out their water-carrying business.

Louis had no intention of running after more Olympic glory. Instead, he married the woman he loved –Helen, the one he’d raced to impress, and continued to live a simple life working as water carrier in his hometown.

That is Love!