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Spyros Spyrou (runner)

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Spyros Spyrou
Personal information
NationalityCypriot
Born (1958-06-06) 6 June 1958 (age 66)
Palaikythro
Height181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight67 kg (148 lb)
Sport
Country Cyprus
SportMiddle-distance running
Achievements and titles
Personal best800 m: 1:47.17 NR[1]
Medal record
Games of the Small States of Europe
Gold medal – first place 1989 Nicosia 800 m
Gold medal – first place 1989 Nicosia 1500 m

Spyros Spyrou (Greek: Σπύρος Σπύρου; born 6 June 1958) is a Cypriot middle-distance runner who competed in the 800 metres and the 1500 metres. He represented his country in the men's 1500 metres and the men's 800 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He was a semi-finalist in the 1500 m, ranking tenth.[2] After his active career he became a athletics coach, coaching several international athletes. He is regarded as one of the best Cypriot coaches.[3]

Biography

[edit]

Born in Palaikythro,[4] he competed in sports from a young age and graduated from the National Academy of Physical Education in Cyprus. He later married fellow Cypriot runn Dora Kyriakou, having a son, Stavros. He works as an athletics coach at GSP Stadium.[5]

He represented Cyprus internationally at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics, the European Athletics Championships (1982 and 1986), the 1982 Commonwealth Games, and the 1986 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.[1] In his final appearance at an international competition, he won gold in both the 800 m and 1500 m at the 1989 Games of the Small States of Europe held in his native Nicosia. His winning time of 1:51.51 minutes in the 800 m was a Games record.[6]

Spyrou is the Cypriot national record holder in the 800 metres, with his best of 1:47.17 minutes standing since 1983 with his run at the 1983 Mediterranean Games.[7] This is one of the longest-standing national records for the sport in Cyprus.[8][9]

Spyrou became after his athletics career a athletics coach.[10] He coaches his son Stavros, who broke the Cypriot under-23 record for the 800 metres.[11] He also serves as the national distance running coach for Cyprus,[12] and coached Cypriot record holder Natalia Evangelidou.[13] His coaching group achieved first place in both men's and women's sections of the national championships in 2019.[3] He is regarded as one of the best Cypriot coaches.[3]

International competitions

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Representing  Cyprus
Year Competition Venue Position Event Result Notes
1981 Universiade Bucharest, Romania 3rd (h) 800 m 1:50.71 [14]
1982 European Championships Athens, Greece 5th (h) 800 m 1:49.11 [15]
Commonwealth Games Brisbane, Australia 6th 800 m 1:47.64 [16]
5th (h) 1500 m 3:47.37 [17]
1983 World Championships Helsinki, Finland 9th (h) 1500 m 3:43.94 [18]
Mediterranean Games Casablanca, Morocco 5th 800 m 1:52.60 [19]
1986 World Cross Country Championships Neuchâtel, Switzerland 277th Senior race 41:06.9 [20]
37th Senior team 1591 pts [20]
European Championships Stuttgart, West Germany 7th 800 m 1:53.36 [15]
1988 Olympic Games Seoul, South Korea 5th (h) 800 m 1:49.84 [4]
10th (sf) 1500 m 3:43.49 [4]
1989 Games of the Small States of Europe Nicosia, Cyprus 1st 800 m 1:51.51 GR[6]
1st 1500 m 3:52.35 [6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Spyros Spyrou. World Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  2. ^ "Spyros Spyrou Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2012-12-15. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  3. ^ a b c spyros-spyroy-apologismos-kai-aisiodoxia (in Greek). Action In Sports. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  4. ^ a b c Spyros Spyrou. Olympedia. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  5. ^ Σπύρος Σπύρου (in Greek). Dromeas. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  6. ^ a b c Games of the Small States of Europe. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  7. ^ Cypriot Outdoor Records – Men. Koeas. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  8. ^ Τα «στοιχειωμένα» Παγκύπρια ρεκόρ του Στίβου (in Greek). Sport-fm. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  9. ^ Κυπριακά ρεκόρ που μένουν ακατάρριπτα στον χρόνο!. Limassol Today (2022-12-31). Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  10. ^ "ΣΠΥΡΟΣ ΣΠΥΡΟΥ: «Περάσαμε πολλές δυσκολίες φέτος- Αν γίνει ακόμα ένα lockdown θα είναι καταστροφη»". actioninsports.com (in Greek). 13 May 2021.
  11. ^ Παγκύπριο ρεκόρ κάτω των 23 στα 800 μ. από τον Σταύρο Σπύρου (in Greek). Nomisma (2023-05-30). Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  12. ^ Είμαστε σε πάρα πολύ καλό επίπεδο- Στόχος να ανέβει (in Greek). Action In Sports (2021-06-17). Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  13. ^ Δουλειά και αισιοδοξία (in Greek). Goal (2018-12-04). Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  14. ^ Results at Tilastopaja
  15. ^ a b European Athletics Championships Zürich 2014 - STATISTICS HANDBOOK (PDF), European Athletics Association, pp. 436–443, retrieved 13 August 2014
  16. ^ "Results". Archived from the original on 2012-09-14. Retrieved 2017-04-16.
  17. ^ "Results". Archived from the original on 2012-09-14. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  18. ^ 1983 World Athletics Championships Men's 1500 metres Results. World Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  19. ^ Results Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ a b Magnusson, Tomas (March 24, 2007), IAAF World Cross Country Championships - 12.0km CC Men - Waregem Date: Saturday, March 17, 1973, Athchamps (archived), archived from the original on October 16, 2007, retrieved October 9, 2013{{citation}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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