On Sunday, November 9th, 2025, Panagiotis Karaiskos crossed the finish line of the 42nd Authentic Athens Marathon as the winner. Yet behind that triumphant image, beyond the medals and the cheering crowd, lies a story far greater than an athletic achievement. It’s the story of a man who first had to run for his life — before he could run to victory.
“Before I beat 25,000 runners, I had beaten heroin”
Born in Petroupoli, Athens, Karaiskos did not grow up as an athlete. In his younger years, he tried many paths — football, judo, odd jobs — until he faced his toughest opponent: addiction.
He drifted from hashish to cocaine, and finally to intravenous heroin use. As he has described, those were years of fear, chaos, and hopelessness. He watched friends vanish, felt hunted, and lived with no direction.
The turning point came unexpectedly. One moment, one realization, was enough to make him say, “This has to stop.” He sought help, entered the rehabilitation program of KETHEA “Strofi”, and fought day by day to rebuild his life.
“It wasn’t easy — it was like learning to walk again,” he has said. And during that process of recovery, he discovered something he never expected: running. At first just a few meters, then kilometers.
Rebirth through running
In 2014, at the age of 26, he registered as an official athlete and entered his first races. With only seven months of training, he completed 10,000 meters in 34 minutes — an astonishing result for a beginner.
Training soon became his new therapy. Running was no longer a means of competition, but a path to self-awareness. “When I run, I leave my past behind,” he says.
Soon came national titles, marathon victories, and international appearances. He first won the Athens Authentic Marathon in 2023, and two years later, in 2025, he triumphed again, leading the race alone from the 15th kilometer until the finish line.
Lessons of a life
Karaiskos doesn’t just speak as an athlete — he speaks as someone who has stared into the abyss and found a way out. In his talks at schools and rehabilitation centers, he repeats the same message:
“No matter how low you’ve fallen, you can rise again. You just have to take the first step.”
That first step took him to a new life, a new identity. From addiction to discipline. From isolation to achievement. From despair to hope.
The runner of the soul
Today, Panagiotis Karaiskos continues to train, to compete, and to inspire. He collaborates with social initiatives that support people overcoming addiction and reminds everyone that every finish line begins with a single choice.
He’s no longer just a marathoner — he’s a symbol of inner strength, of the Greek spirit of resilience. Every step he takes is proof that the greatest race is the one within.
If the Marathon is the ultimate test of endurance, then Panagiotis Karaiskos embodies its true meaning. In his case, the starting line wasn’t in Marathon — it was in the decision to change his life.
And the finish line? It’s where pain turns into power, and a man rediscovers the light within himself.