Panagiotis Karaiskos emerged as the great victor of the 42nd Athens Authentic Marathon, held on Sunday, November 9, completing the 42.195-kilometer course in an impressive 2:20:08.
The Greek runner from Thessaloniki dominated the race, securing first place with a commanding lead over second-place Konstantinos Stamoulis and third-place finisher — last year’s winner — Charalampos Pitsolis.
It was a moment of glory for Karaiskos, who claimed his second career victory in the historic event. He crossed the finish line at the Panathenaic Stadium to thunderous applause from the crowd, celebrating a remarkable performance on the iconic course.
Over 73,000 runners participated in this year’s events, with 24,000 athletes tackling the classic 42.195 km marathon route from the town of Marathon to the historic Panathenaic Stadium. The 10 km race set off from central Athens at 8:00 a.m., followed by the start of the main marathon from Marathon at 9:00 a.m.
Records and Achievements
Karaiskos was born and raised in Petroupoli, a suburb of Athens. As a child, he dreamed of becoming a professional footballer and practiced judo. He discovered athletics later, starting in 2013, and through the sport, he was able to overcome a battle with substance addiction.
Over time, Karaiskos developed into one of Greece’s top long-distance runners. Beyond his athletic achievements, he has delivered numerous lectures and dedicates his energy to helping vulnerable individuals reintegrate into society after struggles with addiction.
Records
• Half Marathon: 1:06:38, Athens, March 10, 2024
• Marathon: 2:17:58, Abuniano, April 11, 2021
Notable Achievements
• 2024: 56th place, European Half Marathon Championships, Rome – 1:08:52
• 2018: 50th place, Berlin Marathon – 2:25:37
