Andreas Paouris

Greek track and field athlete Andreas Paouris competed at the Olympics before becoming the director of the Hellenic Athletics Federation and a sports historian. Paouris represented the Panathenaic Athletic Club where he ran in middle and long-distance running races. In 1927 he became the 1,500 metres champion at the Panhellenic Games, and broke the Panhellenic records in both the 1,000 metres and one-mile races. These performances earned him a place on the Greek team for the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics where he ran in the 5,000 metres. At the 1933 Balkan Athletics Games he finished in third place in the 10,000 metres. Three years later Paouris had the honour of bringing the Olympic torch to the Acropolis in Athína.

After his retirement from athletics Paouris worked for the Hellenic Athletics Federation where he later became the director of the organisation. In 1960 he was honoured with the Golden Royal Cross of the Order of the Phoenix by King Paul of Greece for his services to his country. Six years later, the Hellenic Athletics Federation also bestowed Paouris with a special medal for his work. While with the Federation he began to document statistical performances and athletic records, becoming one of the first in Greece to track sporting data.

Personal Best: 5000 – 16:14.4 (1928).