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GreekReporter.comGreecePortuguese Joao Oliveira Wins 31st Spartathlon Ultra-Marathon Race

Portuguese Joao Oliveira Wins 31st Spartathlon Ultra-Marathon Race

Joao OliveiraPortuguese ultra-marathon runner Joao Oliveira won the 31st Spartathlon race, one of the most difficult long distance routes internationally, crossing the finish line at the southern Greece city of Sparta on early Saturday.
Oliveira reached the statue of ancient Spartan king Leonidas at approximately 06:30 am local time, at 23 hours, 29 minutes and 8 seconds after the start of the 246 kilometers non-stop race at the foot of the Acropolis hill in Athens on Friday.
He was among 333 runners from across the world who took part this year in the revival of the epic feat that ancient Athenian soldier Pheidippides achieved 2,500 years ago, when he first ran from Athens to Sparta to seek reinforcements for the battle against Persian forces.
Under the warm applause of locals and foreign visitors an excited Oliveira burst into tears after being awarded with an olive wreath and a cup of water from the nearby Evrotas river.
“It is like a dream”, “it is unbelievable”, “it is a wonderful dream which goes on and on, a dream of creating a better world of high ideals,” were the key phrases on the lips of athletes who crossed the finish line and spectators throughout Saturday.
“I can’t realize what has happened. I only know this: keep going. Never give up,” German ultra-marathoner Florian Reus told, after finishing second clocking 25:29.54. In 2007 he had ranked 27th. On Saturday he wanted to spread the entire world a message of determination to achieve goals, out beating any obstacles.
The two winners of 2010, 2011 and 2012 Spartathlons run the final kilometer holding hands, shared the third place (in 25:54.49) and tears of joy hugging each other.
The first female across the finish line was Hungarian Szilvia Lubics in 28:03.04.

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