Dimitrios Loundras

Dimitrios Loundras (Greek: Δημήτριος Λούνδρας; 6 September 1885[1] – 15 February 1970)[2] was a Greek gymnast and naval officer who competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens. He was the last surviving participant of these Games.[3]

Dimitrios Loundras
Δημήτριος Λούνδρας
Loundras in 1896
Born	(1885-10-06)6 October 1885 Athens, Kingdom of Greece
Died	15 February 1970(1970-02-15) (aged 84)
Military career
Allegiance	Kingdom of Greece
Service/branch	Royal Hellenic Navy
Years of service	1905–1935
Rank	Rear admiral
Battles/wars	World War I

Medal record
Men's artistic gymnastics
Representing  Greece
Men's artistic gymnastics
	1896 Athens	Team parallel bars

Loundras competed in the team parallel bars event. In that competition, Loundras was a member of the Ethnikos Gymnastikos Syllogos team that placed third of the three teams in the event, giving him a bronze medal. At 10 years 218 days he remains the youngest medalist and competitor in Olympic history,[4][5][6] if one discounts an unknown competitor, who competed as coxswain for the Dutch coxed pair rowing team in the 1900 Olympics, (which for this reason is considered a mixed team), believed to be a French boy from 7 to 10 years old, but who according to Dutch expert Tony Bijkerk he was more likely nearer 12 years of age.[7]

Loundras later became an officer in the Royal Hellenic Navy, graduating from the Hellenic Navy Academy as an ensign in 1905. He served in various commands as well as a naval attache, and fought in World War I, before retiring with the rank of rear admiral in 1935. On the outbreak of the Greco-Italian War in 1940, he was recalled to active service and appointed head of the Aegean Naval Command. He finally retired in 1945 as a vice admiral.[4] From 1924 on he was a member of the Hellenic Olympic Committee.[4] After World War II he played a leading role in the establishment of the Hellenic Shooting Federation, and became its first president.[4] In 1936 he also served briefly as prefect of Lesbos Prefecture.