Evangelos Damaskos

Bronze medal, April 10, 1896, Evangelos Damaskos and Yiannis Theodoropoulos, Pole vault. Athens 1896

Five athletes took part in the race, three Greeks and two Americans, they not only had greater skills but also knew better the secrets of the competition. Thus, the fight took place essentially in two groups, between the two Americans and between the two Greeks. The secret in the history of the competition lies in the performances of the Greek masters, which are presented very differently in the literature. Evangelos Damaskos took 3rd place with a jump of 2.60, as did Yiannis Theodoropoulos, who jumped the same height, and both seem to share third place. However, there are also some authors such as the German Volker Kluge, who gives a jump of 2.90 for Damascus and 2.75 for Theodoropoulos.

However, both the IOC and the IAAF put the two Greeks together in third place. The two Americans, William Hoyt and Albert Tyler, started last and their duel decided the first place. The winner finally prevailed with a jump of 3.30 against the 3.20 of his compatriot.

The final ranking: Hoyt (USA) 3.30 Tyler (USA) 3.20 Damascus (Greece) 2.60 Theodoropoulos (Greece) 2.60 Xydas (Greece) 2.40.