Konstantinos Tsiklitiras

Konstantinos Tsiklitiras
Konstantinos Tsiklitiras competing at standing high jump at the 1912 Olympics
Personal information
Native nameΚωνσταντίνος Τσικλητήρας
NicknameKostas (Κώστας)
Born30 October 1888
Pylos, Peloponnesos, Kingdom of Greece
Died10 February 1913 (aged 24)
Athens, Kingdom of Greece
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight81 kg (179 lb)
Military career
AllegianceGreece Kingdom of Greece
Service / branch Hellenic Army
Battles / warsBalkan Wars
Sport
CountryGreece Greece
SportJumping
ClubPanellinios GS, Athina
Medal record
Representing Greece Greece
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1912 Stockholm Standing long jump
Silver medal – second place 1908 London Standing long jump
Silver medal – second place 1908 London Standing high jump
Bronze medal – third place 1912 Stockholm Standing high jump

Konstantinos "Kostis" Tsiklitiras (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος "Κωστής" Τσικλητήρας; 30 October 1888 – 10 February 1913) was a Greek athlete and Olympic champion.[1][2]

Born in Pylos, he moved to Athens in 1905 to study medicine.[3] Tsiklitiras soon took up sports and joined Panellinios GS. He practised football with Panellinios and Panathinaikos (he was the first goalkeeper of Panathinaikos) and water polo, but is best remembered for winning four Olympic medals in standing long jump and standing high jump in the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics.[3] He was Greek champion 19 times.

Tsiklitiras winning the gold medal in standing long jump in Stockholm, 1912

His career stopped in 1913 when he volunteered to fight in the Balkan Wars. Although he could avoid conscription, he insisted on fighting for his country and fought at the Battle of Bizani. He contracted meningitis and died in Athens at the age of 24.[4] His family home still exists in Pylos and holds a museum of his athletic achievements. [5][6] There is a marble statue in front.

  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Kostas Tsiklitiras". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Kostas Tsiklitiras". Olympedia. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b Κιτροέφ, Αλέξανδρος (2010). Ελλάς, Ευρώπη, Παναθηναϊκός!. greekworks.com. p. 28.
  4. ^ Konstantinos TSIKLITIRAS. athletix.org
  5. ^ "Tsiklitiras House". pylos.info. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  6. ^ Decker, Wolfgang (1 November 2018). "Honour where honour is due: News of the Olympic Champion Kostis Tsiklitiras from Pylos". Diagoras: International Academic Journal on Olympic Studies. 2: 13–26.