Stavros Velkopoulos

Born in İstanbul in 1910 Stavros Velkopoulos came to Greece as a refugee following the Greco-Turkish War. After settling in Athina Velkopoulos played football for Panathinaikos in his youth but an injury forced him to give up the sport. Years later he took up running, achieving good results in middle and long-distance track events. He was selected to represent Greece in the 800 metres at the 1936 Berlin Olympics but finished last in his heat.

Despite his setback at the Olympics Velkopoulos continued to compete and won gold in the 1,500 metres and the 3,000 metres steeplechase at the 1939 Balkan Games. That same year he also won gold in the 3,000 metres steeplechase at the Panhellenic Games. Velkopoulos had a long career in the military and fought in the Greco-Italian War in the early 1940s and the Greek Civil War at the end of the decade.

Personal Best: 800 – unknown.