Underfunded, under-rested, and having scraped together just enough money to make the trip from war-torn Greece, Kyriakides crossed the finish line in 2:29:27, looked up at the sky, and shouted: “For Greece!” He then spent months touring America raising money and awareness for a nation on its knees after World War II — and went home with desperately needed funds for food and clothing.
Most of us run Boston for a personal best. This man ran it for a nation. Eighty years later, his son is coming back.
Dimitri Kyriakides will lead a seven-member Greek delegation to the 42nd annual Boston Marathon Wreath Ceremony on Thursday, April 16, at View Boston on 800 Boylston Street (6–8 PM). The event serves as the official presentation of the winner’s trophies for the 130th Boston Marathon, held the following Monday, April 20.
Wreaths with a 2,500-year backstory
The crowns themselves deserve a moment. Four gold-plated wreaths, each cut from olive branches on the Plains of Marathon in Greece, will be formally handed from the Consul General of Greece, Hon. Symeon Tegos, to Peter Brown, Chair of the Boston Athletic Association Board of Governors.
This tradition has been part of Boston since 1933, and its roots go back considerably further — to the citizen-soldiers who fought at Marathon over 2,500 years ago, defending ideals of freedom and democracy. The olive wreath was their victory symbol. Somewhere between ancient Greece and Copley Square, it became Boston’s too.
For runners who’ve spent months grinding out long runs to earn a finisher’s medal, consider this: the laurel that crowns the winner on April 20 grew on the same ground where the marathon legend began. Not bad for a Tuesday in April.
The Kyriakides delegation didn’t come all this way to watch. Four of the seven members are registered to run the full marathon, including Michalis Kalomiris, who represented Greece in the 2016 Rio Olympics. They’ll be out on the course on Monday, racing in tribute to a man who won this thing in borrowed shoes and sheer determination.
Three milestones, one night
This year’s ceremony lands at a rare pile-up of anniversaries: the 130th Boston Marathon, the 80th anniversary of Kyriakides’ win, and the 50th anniversary of the Alpha Omega Council, the Boston-based non-profit co-hosting the event alongside the Consulate General of Greece and the 26.2 Foundation.
Emcee for the evening is Arielle Mitropoulos — Cambridge native, news anchor, and five-time Boston Marathon charity runner. Someone who’s stood on both sides of the story.
Among those being honored is Jack Fultz, the 1976 Boston Marathon champion. Special presentations will also come from Timothy Kilduff, president of the 26.2 Foundation and former race director, and Paul Tsitsopoulos of the Alpha Omega Council.
