Spyridon Louis, in the centre dressed as an Evzone, at the medal ceremony for the marathon at the Athens 1896 Games. This shepherd gave Greece its first gold medal of the modern Olympic Games. The stir around this victory followed him his whole life, so much so that he was selected as flag-bearer of the Greek delegation at the Berlin Games in 1936. ©IOC

First place winners were awarded a silver medal, an olive branch and a diploma. Those in second place were given a bronze/cooper* medal, a branch of laurel and a diploma. The obverse side of the Athens medal has Zeus' face along with his hand holding a globe with the winged victory on it, with the inscription “ΟΛΥΜΓΙΑ". The reverse side had the Acropolis site with the inscription “ΔΙΕΘΝΕΙΣ · ΟΛΥΜΓΙΑΚΟΙ · ΑΓΩΝΕΣ ΕΝ · ΑΘΗΝΑΙΣ · 1896."

Start of the 100m… The future winner, America’s Thomas Burke, is in the second lane on the left ©IOC

Athens 1896-Spyridon LOUIS (GRE) 1st at the medal ceremony.

Athens 1896-Fencing-A match.

Athens 1896-HAJÓS Alfred (HUN).

Athens 1896-The American delegation (USA). GRAHAM J., trainer, CONNOLLY J., CURTIS T., BLAKE A., BURKE T.

Athens 1896-HAJÓS Alfred (HUN).

Athens 1896-The American delegation (USA). The American team in the Pan-Athenian stadium.

Athens 1896-WEINGARTNER Hermann (GER) at the horizontal bar.