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
Died15 February 1970(1970-02-15) (aged 84)
Military career
AllegianceKingdom of Greece
Service/branchRoyal Hellenic Navy
Years of service1905–1935
RankRear admiral
Battles/warsWorld War I
Medal record
Men's artistic gymnastics
Representing  Greece
Men's artistic gymnastics
Bronze medal – third place1896 AthensTeam 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.

References

  1. Note: Greece officially adopted the Gregorian calendar on 16 February 1923 (which became 1 March). All dates prior to that, unless specifically denoted, are Old Style.
  2. Gjerde, Arild; Jeroen Heijmans; Bill Mallon; Hilary Evans (May 2014). "Dimitrios Loundras Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics. Sports Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
  3. "Dimitrios Loundras". Olympedia. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  4. "Λούνδρας Δημήτριος" (in Greek). Hellenic Olympians Association. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  5. "Dimitrios Loundras the youngest Olympic Gymnastics champion". www.topendsports.com. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  6. "Olympedia – Age records". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  7. "Rowing at the 1900 Paris Summer Games: Men's Coxed Pairs | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". 2020-04-18. Archived from the original on 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2021-08-10.

Wallechinsky, David; Loucky, Jaime (2008). The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. Aurum Press. p. 702. ISBN 978-1-84513-330-6.


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