Yiannis Mitropoulos

Gold medal, April 9, 1896, Yiannis Mitropoulos, rings. Athens 1896

Eight athletes from three countries, Greece, Germany and Hungary, participated in the competition. Our country won the rings event thanks to 22-year-old law student Yiannis Mitropoulos, a success that was received with great enthusiasm by Greek fans, as it was the first in history to be achieved at Panathinaic Stadium. It is known from the time that Mitropoulos and the German Hermann Weingärtner had a fierce fight to achieve this success. According to the American sports historian David Walesinski, the fight was decided in the details. He mentions that three judges awarded the victory to the Greek champion and the other three to the German, resulting in a draw.

The deciding factor was Prince George of Greece, who gave his preferential vote to Yannis Mitropoulos. The ranking Mitropoulos (Greece) Weingartner (Germany) P. Persakis (Greece) Schumann (Germany)