Grigorios Georgakopoulos

Grigorios Georgakopoulos was one of the greatest Greek middle-distance runners of the interwar period and dominated in the 800 and 1,500 metres. At the Greek championships Georgakopoulos won six titles in the 800 metres (1929, 1931, 1934–37) and seven titles in the 1,500 metres (1928–30, 1934–37). He had a similar record at the Balkan Games with five golds in the 800 metres (1931, 1933–36) and five in the 1,500 metres (1931–32, 1934–36). Georgakopoulos was selected to run in both distances at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic but did not start in either of them. Eight years later, however, he did finally compete at the Olympics, running in both races at the 1936 Berlin Games. A year later whilst competing at the Balkan Games he became unwell and was forced to give up his sporting endeavours under doctors’ orders.

Personal Bests: 800 – 1:57.3 (1936); 1500 – 4:01.4 (1936).