Konstantinos Tsiklitiras was a well-known Greek athlete who rose to prominence after earning a gold medal at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics in the standing long jump. During his Olympic career, he won one gold medal, two silver medals, and one bronze medal. He earned a gold medal in the standing long jump and a bronze medal in the standing high leap in the Stockholm Olympic Games, and he also competed in the standing long jump and standing high jump at the 1908 London Olympics, winning silver in both events. Konstantinos was a track and field athlete who was a member of the Panhellenic Gymnastic Society. He won the Greek title 19 times. When he volunteered to participate in the Balkan Wars, his career came to an abrupt stop. Despite the fact that he could avoid conscription, he persisted on fighting for his country. He caught meningitis during the war and died at the age of twenty-four. His original family home in Pylos has been turned into a museum, complete with a large marble statue of him.
Childhood and Adolescence
Konstantinos Tsiklitiras was born in an influential and prosperous family in the Pylos district of Messinia on October 30, 1888.
Konstantinos traveled to Athens after finishing school to study commerce at the Merchant Academy. However, he quickly dropped out of the study and pursued a career in sports.
In the beginning of his career, Konstantinos was more interested in soccer and water polo. Soon after, he joined the Panhellenic Gymnastic Society, where he competed in track and field.
Konstantinos also played football for Panthinaikos’ ancient club, the POA. He took on the role of goalie in this game.
Konstantinos began his athletic career as a track and field athlete. His outstanding track performance quickly made him a popular field star in Athens.
He competed in various field meets and jumps as a member of the Panhellenic Gymanstic Society. He won the Greek title 19 times.
Konstantinos competed in the Olympics for the first time in 1908. He competed in the London Olympics, winning silver medals in both the standing high jump and standing long jump events.
He competed in the Stockholm Olympics in 1912 and earned gold for his outstanding performance in the standing long jump. He was the last Olympic athlete to win the standing long jump, as the sport was dropped from future Olympics. He also won bronze in the standing high jump competition in the Stockholm Olympics in the same year.
When he decided to volunteer for the First Balkan War in 1913, his career came to an abrupt halt. He rose through the ranks of the Greek Army to become a sergeant and fought on the front lines in Epirus.
His Achievements & Awards
Konstantinos won silver medals in the men’s standing high jump and men’s standing long jump at the 1908 London Olympics. In both of these rounds, he came in second place.
He earned a gold medal in the men’s standing long jump and a bronze medal in the men’s standing high jump at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics.
Personal History and Legacy of Konstantinos Tsiklitiras
On February 10, 1913, at the age of 24, he died of meningitis. He was a Sergeant in the Greek Army at the time of his death, and he was fighting in the Balkan War.
His original family home in Pylos has been converted into a museum, complete with a large marble statue of him.
Estimated Net Worth
Konstantinos Tsiklitiras’s net worth is unknown.
Trivia
Kostas was a soccer player and a water polo fan in addition to being a track star.