Konstantinos Tsiklitiras Biography

Konstantinos Tsiklitiras, was a popular Greek athlete who rose to fame by winning a gold medal in the standing long jump at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. He won one gold medal, two silver medals and one bronze medal in his Olympic career. Apart from winning a gold medal and bronze medal (in standing high jump) in the Stockholm Olympic Games, he also participated in the standing long jump and standing high jump at the 1908 London Olympics and won silver medal in both the events. Konstantinos was a member of the Panhellenic Gymnastic Society where he practiced as a track and field athlete. He became Greek champion 19 times. His career ended abruptly when he volunteered for fighting in the Balkan Wars. Even though he could avoid conscription in the war, yet he insisted on participating in it for his country. During the war, he contracted meningitis and died at the age of twenty four. His original family home in Pylos has now been converted to a museum and is adorned by his lofty marble statue