Stelianos Kyriakedes had a miraculous life. Born premature and having to drop out of school to help with money for his family...he became a dishwasher. Somehow he found running. He was so embarrassed to run in front of people that he would stop when someone was near.
He amazed many that thought he would never be a runner. He ended up in the Olympics in Berlin. He did amazing things there and then was invited to the Boston Marathon...where he decided to use his new shoes he had been given and could not even finish the race. He was determined to come back and run the race.
During the war Kyriakedes almost died. The only thing that saved him were his papers that he was an Olympian that participated in the Berlin Olympics.
After the war Greece was stricken with a death sentence: there was no food, no jobs, and no hope. Emaciated from hunger Kyriakedes told his wife he was going to run the Boston Marathon to help aid the starving country. His wife looked at him and said he couldn't, he was too thin and hadn't run in several years.
Determined he started to run. He sold everything he had to get to Boston to run. Doctors told him he wouldn't be allowed to run...they feared his death if he ran. Some fellow runners that knew him asked for him to be allowed to run.
Kyriakedes not only won the Boston Marathon, he broke his personal best by 16 minutes and set a world record for his time.
He was able to secure food and help to his people...but more importantly hope. When he returned 1 million people greeted him. 1 million people!
It truly is an inspiring story of courage and strength through very difficult circumstances.
I hope you enjoy...(it isn't too long most of the length is just Olympic news so just fast forward to about 8:56 and it only lasts until 30 something)
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| Great action shot of Emmy |
