Spartathlon 1994 - Dimitrios Kehagioglou, por Marios Fournaris:
Spartathlon 94 was probably the hardest I've run, with 35˚ C in the shade. Troubles begun for most runners as early as within the first marathon distance.
Indeed in 1994, up until the 200th kilometer all Greek runners had quit except one: Dimitris Kehagioglou...
Dimitris originates from the town of Alexandroupolis. When we first met at age 19, he was a very good sprinter (200m, 400m). All this up until 1990, the year when he watched his first Spartathlon.
In 1991 he stood for his very first time at the Spartathlon's starting line, having the training and body type of the 200m sprinter. Despite the terrible problems he faced in his first attempts with Spartathlon, his love for this race was enough motivation for him to keep trying.
And then, in 1994, after 28 hours into the race, he found himself to be the only Greek still running.
Having quit in the 160th km, I had joined Dimitris' support crew.
While climbing Manthyrea, he complained about severe pain on his legs. We encouraged him and headed to the 206th km, where we were again allowed to meet him. At 206 km, Dimitris was still running but the pains on his legs were stronger and exhaustion from his overexertion to overcome the mountain was depicted on his face.
Next point where we waited for him was 218th km. We were informed that he was not running anymore but that he was instead walking quickly.
However, given it was downhill at that point, we thought he was unexplainably late to appear. When finally he appeared, he laconically said: "I fainted out and the Japanese saved me". He stayed for just a few moments at the check point and left while limping.
After a while, a van with Japanese supportrs arrived. They informed us they found him laying insensible on the asphalt and revived him, while he spluttered in vertigo he would not quit the race. Apparently he thought they were race doctors trying to force him to quit the race.
Our hopes for Dimitris started fading away by the approaching 36-hour deadline, since the strain on the calf of his one leg and the extensive edema and fatigue fracture in the ankle of the other leg did not leave much room for him to start running again.
It was now certain that Dimitris would have to walk for the final 30 k of the race.
From the check point at the 225th km we watched him approaching slowly. Suddenly, 300 m before the station, he fainted out again.
We ran over him. I leaned to his ear and whispered that it was time for him to get up and head to Leonidas with controlled persistence. Then Dimitri broke into tears and all of us followed him. His sorrow for the lost 36-hour time limit overwhelmed him.
Suddenly, in one brilliant moment he became a worthy Spartathlete. He slammed his fists on the asphalt and slowly stood up. That year Dimitris was honored to be the only Greek runner to touch Leonidas. Pain became his friend and he walked smiling the final 20 km of the distance. We abandoned our cars and followed him walking...some ten runners and supporters.
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| Dimitrios cruzando el río Eurotas. Spartathlon 1994. |
It was dark when we walked into Sparta.
I remember a Spartan lady shouting "you are worthy" from her balcony and throwing a rose to him.
On the final few meters to Leonidas there were no authorities, no spectators, no organizers. Leonidas was alone waiting for his warrior.
It took a month for Dimitris to walk again but he soon started training for next Spartathlon.
¿Y cómo acaba todo ésto para Dimitrios? Pues parece que bien, al menos ésto es lo que aparece en el cuadro histórico del Spartathlon:
AÑO
|
PUESTO
|
NOMBRE
|
PAIS
|
EDAD
|
TIEMPO
|
1997
|
52
|
KEHAGIOGLOU Dimitrios
|
GRE
|
29
|
34:54:00
|
1998
|
40
|
KEHAGIOGLOU DIMITRIOS
|
GRE
|
30
|
34:31:37"
|
2005
|
73
|
KEHAGIOGLOU Dimitrios
|
GRE
|
37
|
34:55:03
|
2009
|
123
|
KEHAGIOGLOU DIMITRIOS
|
GRE
|
41
|
35:47:10
|
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