Runner Costas Gelaouzos became the fastest Greek in the 38th Athens Authentic Marathon Race held on Sunday, breaking a long-standing record with 2:16:49 on the course that starts in Marathon, East Attica, and ends at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.
Gelaouzos, an athlete with the Panathenaikos team, broke Nikos Polias’ record which was set during the Olympic Games of 2004 in Athens with 02:17:56. Polias was among those congratulating Gelaouzos at the Panathenaic Stadium. Panagiotis Bourikas of Messiniakos sports team came second with 02:22:33, and Charalambos Pitsolis of the Ilissos sports team followed with 02:24:05.
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Gloria Privilegio of the Glyfada sports team came in first in the women’s category with 02:41:30, her first victory in the race ever. She was followed by Katerina Assimakopoulou of the Mykonos sports team with 02:48:12 and Vassiliki Konstantopoulou of the Neapoli sports team with 02:51:32.
This year’s Athens Authentic Marathon is organised by SEGAS and the Region of Attica, with the support of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the Athens and Marathon Municipalities and the financial support of OPAP SA gaming company.
The scheduling this year – the first after a hiatus in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic – included 5km and 10km races on Saturday and Sunday, with all three split into two running groups starting slightly apart for health safety reasons.
A total of 27,800 runners of 100 different nationalities from 83 countries were registered in both the Athens road races and the Marathon races. Of these, 81 per cent were locals and 19 per cent were international athletes from which 82 per cent already reside in Greece and 18 per cent came to the race from abroad.
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5km race exceeds all expectations
The 5km race that preceded the 38th Athens Authentic Marathon race on Sunday drew several politicians, retired record-breaking athletes, and people of all ages.
Runners included Greek Deputy Labor Minister responsible for Welfare and Social Solidarity programs Domna Michailidou, who ran with nonprofit MDA Hellas; Greek Deputy Sports Minister Lefteris Avgenakis, who ran next to a national record holder for the 5km race, Spyros Andriopoulos; Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis; and Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias, all of whom spoke of the joy of participating in the events and the opportunity it gives Athenians of all walks of life to either participate or witness them.
Michailidou ran alongside wheelchair-bound Andreas Hotzas on the 5km race with MDA Hellas, which provides support for people with neuromuscular afflictions. The minister said she ran “to prove that limitations can be overcome and our society can – and must – become inclusive and provide equal rights to all.” MDA hellas runs three units at state hospitals (Children’s Hospital “Agia Sofia” in Athens, AHEPA in Thessaloniki, and University General Hospital of Rio in Patras).
Also running at the 5k race were Olympic track and field athletes Pigi Devetzi and Niki Bakogianni, along with former international football player Giorgos (“Giourkas”) Seitaridis.
Two of the runners included 88-year-old Giorgos Doussis, who is a dedicated runner, and Kyria Stamatia, who was a personal friend of pacifist doctor, athlete and politician Grigoris Lambrakis who was murdered in 1963, and who said she runs to honor his memory and his values.
