Konstantinos Tsiklitiras

Konstantinos Tsiklitiras was a Greek athlete who excelled in standing long jump and standing high jump events. He was born in Pylos, a coastal town in the Peloponnese, in an affluent family. He moved to Athens in 1905 to study commerce, but soon dropped out and joined the Panellinios Gymnastic Society, where he practiced various sports, including football and water polo. He also played as a goalkeeper for the POA, the predecessor of Panathinaikos. He made his Olympic debut in 1908 in London, where he won two silver medals in standing long jump and standing high jump. He improved his performance in 1912 in Stockholm, where he won the gold medal in standing long jump and the bronze medal in standing high jump. He was the last athlete to win the standing long jump event, as it was discontinued after 1912. He also set a world record of 3.37 meters in standing long jump in 1910, which still stands today. He was a Greek champion 19 times in various jumping events. His athletic career was cut short by his patriotic decision to volunteer for the Balkan Wars in 1912. He fought in the Battle of Bizani, where he contracted meningitis and died in 1913 at the age of 24. He was widely mourned by the Greek public and honored by the state. His family home in Pylos was turned into a museum of his achievements and a marble statue of him was erected in front of it. He is regarded as one of the greatest Greek athletes of all time and a symbol of courage and sacrifice.