Christos Mantikas

Prior to World War II Greek track and field athlete Christos Mantikas was one of the best sprinters and hurdlers in the country. From 1929 to 1940 Mantikas won multiple medals at the Balkan Games and the Panhellenic Championships. At the Balkan Games he won gold in the 110 metres hurdles (1929–37, 1939–40), 400 metres hurdles (1930, 1933–38), 4 x 100 metres relay (1930, 1932–38), 4 x 400 metres hurdles (1930–33, 1935–36, 1939), 200 metres (1931), and the 400 metres (1935–36). He continued his impressive form at the Panhellenic Championships with more gold medals including the 110 metres hurdles (1930, 1934–37, 1940), 400 metres hurdles (1936–37, 1940), and 4 x 100 metres (1940).

Mantikas was selected to compete at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics where he also had the honour of being the flagbearer for Greece at the Opening Ceremony. At the Los Angeles Games he reached the semi-finals in both the 110 metres and 400 metres hurdles. In 1934 Mantikas won bronze in the 400 metres hurdles at the European Athletics Championships in Torino, Italy. Two years later he came sixth in the 400 metres hurdles at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Mantikas was forced to quit athletics following the outbreak of the war. He then continued to suffer with several health problems, which resulted in having part of his right leg amputated in 1949. He died from cancer in July 1960 at the age of 58.

Personal Bests: 100 – 11.0 (1930); 400 – 49.6 (1932); 110H – 14.8 (1933); 400H – 53.4 (1932).