Yannis Kouros was born in 1956, in Tripoli and since 1990 he has been living in Australia where he became an Australian citizen. From a young age he seemed to have a special artistic inclination as from the age of twelve he started writing poems and composing his own melodies. During his school years, he took lessons in Byzantine and European music. From the age of sixteen onwards, he took up sport to which he devoted more and more time, managing to become what he is today…the world’s most important ultra-marathon runner.
In 1977 he ran the first marathon, finishing the classic course in 2:43:15. Until 1982 he constantly improved his time, doing the same course that year in 2 hours and 25 minutes. At the same time he worked various jobs in order to earn a small income for his living. Nothing worried him, even the fact that he was deprived of things equipped him with excessive strength and an iron will. He learned to fight like a lion, not only in sports, but in other areas of life. In fact, he urges people to use the inner hidden strength they possess and according to him this can only be achieved through deprivation and learning.
“THE MOST IMPORTANT RACING EVENT OF MY CAREER AND MY LIFE WAS THE NEW YORK SIX-DAY RACE IN 1984, WHERE I BROKE 16 WORLD RECORDS THAT HAD NOT BEEN BROKEN SINCE 1888, I.E. FOR 100 YEARS OR SO. AND THAT OPENED THE DOOR TO FURTHER INVITATIONS AND OTHER ROUTES. BUT THAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I CONSIDER TO BE THE SPRINGBOARD OF MY LATER CAREER.”
In 1983 he completed about 25 marathons and ran the 1st Spartathlon, in which he finished first, 3 hours and 15 minutes ahead of the second runner. In the following years he won this race three more times and to date holds the four best performances ever recorded. These victories led him to the realization that his future belongs to the ultra-marathon. From 1983 to 2000, Giannis Kouros triumphed by being the first to cut the thread in 53 ultra-marathons, setting records that were included in the GUINNESS book.
But his most important moments as an athlete could be considered when in 2005, he completed the Pheidippideios Athlos. He did the route of the ancient Athenian messenger Pheidippides: “Athens – Sparta – Athens” 490 km long in 63 hours, i.e. about 2.5 days.
In the book he has written entitled “Six-Day Run of the Century”, Yannis Kouros notes among other things. It is not easy to understand what happens in the mind, in the soul of a runner, in his senses and beyond…in his attempt to deny his body. The runner who is able to continue is the one who has been able to transcend on a metaphysical level.”
