What happened to the guy who ran the first marathon?

What happened to the guy who ran the first marathon?

Phidippides was a legendary Greek runner who ran from Marathon to Athens in 490 BC to announce the victory of the Greeks over the Persians. After running about 40 km to the Acropolis in Athens, he promptly collapsed and died.

Who was the first to run a marathon?

soldier Pheidippides
In a nod to Greek history, the first marathon commemorated the run of the soldier Pheidippides from a battlefield near the town of Marathon, Greece, to Athens in 490 B.C. According to legend, Pheidippides ran the approximately 25 miles to announce the defeat of the Persians to some anxious Athenians.

When was the marathon first introduced into the Olympics?

1896
The marathon at the Summer Olympics is the only road running event held at the multi-sport event. The men’s marathon has been present on the Olympic athletics programme since 1896. Nearly ninety years later, the women’s event was added to the programme at the 1984 Olympics.

Who crashed the 1896 Olympic marathon?

Stamata Revithi
Stamata Revithi (Greek: Σταμάτα Ρεβίθη; 1866 – after 1896) was a Greek woman who ran the 40-kilometre marathon during the 1896 Summer Olympics. The Games excluded women from competition, but Revithi insisted that she be allowed to run.

What did Pheidippides say before he died?

After their victory over a Persian invasion force at the border village of Marathon, the Athenians sent a messenger called Pheidippides to deliver the news to the city authorities. After running the 42 kilometres back to Athens, Pheidippides gasped “we’ve won!” (nenikēkamen) and promptly died of exhaustion.

What was Pheidippides last words?

In the long run, you may end up with a broken heart. Let me “run” something by you. Whoa, I forgot, that was the old Marathoner/100-mile Bicyclist/Half-Ironman Triathlon® -Me talking.

What was the original marathon distance?

26.2 miles
The marathon may have ancient roots, but the foot race’s official length of 26.2 miles wasn’t established until the 20th century. The first organized marathon was held in Athens at the 1896 Olympics, the start of the Games’ modern era.

Who won the first Olympic marathon in 1896?

Spyridon Louis
Spyridon Louis (Greek: Σπυρίδων Λούης [spiˈriðon ˈluis], sometimes transliterated Spiridon Loues; 12 January 1873 – 26 March 1940), commonly known as Spyros Louis (Σπύρος Λούης), was a Greek water carrier who won the first modern-day Olympic marathon at the 1896 Summer Olympics.

What was the distance of the first Olympic marathon in 1896?

40 kilometers
To commemorate his dramatic run, the distance of the 1896 Olympic marathon was set at 40 kilometers. For the next few Olympics, the length of the marathon remained close to 25 miles, but at the 1908 Games in London the course was extended, allegedly to accommodate the British royal family.

Why is Pheidippides called brave answer?

He is called brave because he risked his life to save Athens. The long marathon that he ran was life risking. Explanation: Pheidippides ran from Athens to Sparta to gather the Spartan armies to help fight off the Persians.

Who won the first marathon at the Olympics in 1896?

Spyros Louis, the first marathon race winner of the Modern Olympic Games, 1896. When Louis finally arrived in a stadium erupting with joy, two Greek princes – Crown Prince Constantine and Prince George – rushed to meet him and accompanied him on his final lap for a finishing time of 2:58:50.

What was the first marathon in the world?

The first such marathon race was a Greek national competition that served as a qualifier for the Olympic marathon, won by Charilaos Vasilakos. The length of the marathon in 1896 was approximately 40 km (25 mi). While twenty-five athletes traveled to Marathon for the race, though only seventeen actually began the race.

When did the marathon become an Olympic event?

The marathon was one of the original modern Olympic events in 1896. The distance did not become standardized until 1921. The distance is also included in the World Athletics Championships, which began in 1983. It is the only running road race included in both championship competitions (walking races on the roads are also contested in both).

When did the Boston Marathon start?

The Boston Marathon began on 19 April 1897, and was inspired by the success of the first marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics. It is the world’s oldest run annual marathon, and ranks as one of the world’s most prestigious road racing events. Its course runs from Hopkinton in southern Middlesex County, to Copley Square in Boston.