Dimitrios Loundras | |
|---|---|
Δημήτριος Λούνδρας | |
 Loundras in 1896 | |
| Born | 6 October 1885 |
| Died | 15 February 1970 (aged 84) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Greece |
| Service/ | Royal Hellenic Navy |
| Years of service | 1905–1935 |
| Rank | Rear admiral |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's artistic gymnastics | ||
Representing  Greece
| ||
| Men's artistic gymnastics | ||
 |
1896 Athens | Team parallel bars |
Dimitrios Loundras (Greek: Δημήτριος Λούνδρας; 6 September 1885[1] – 15 February 1970)[2] was a Greek gymnast and naval officer who competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens. He was the last surviving participant of these Games.[3]
Loundras competed in the team parallel bars event. In that competition, Loundras was a member of the Ethnikos Gymnastikos Syllogos team that placed third of the three teams in the event, giving him a bronze medal. At 10 years 218 days he remains the youngest medalist and competitor in Olympic history,[4][5][6] if one discounts an unknown competitor, who competed as coxswain for the Dutch coxed pair rowing team in the 1900 Olympics, (which for this reason is considered a mixed team), believed to be a French boy from 7 to 10 years old, but who according to Dutch expert Tony Bijkerk he was more likely nearer 12 years of age.[7]
Loundras later became an officer in the Royal Hellenic Navy, graduating from the Hellenic Navy Academy as an ensign in 1905. He served in various commands as well as a naval attache, and fought in World War I, before retiring with the rank of rear admiral in 1935. On the outbreak of the Greco-Italian War in 1940, he was recalled to active service and appointed head of the Aegean Naval Command. He finally retired in 1945 as a vice admiral.[4] From 1924 on he was a member of the Hellenic Olympic Committee.[4] After World War II he played a leading role in the establishment of the Hellenic Shooting Federation, and became its first president.[4] In 1936 he also served briefly as prefect of Lesbos Prefecture.
