Carlo Airoldi facts for kids
Carlo Airoldi (born 21 September 1869, died 18 June 1929) was an amazing Italian marathon runner. He became famous for walking all the way to the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece!
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Who was Carlo Airoldi?
Carlo Airoldi was born in a town called Origgio, near Saronno, Italy. From a young age, he loved to compete in sports. He started in his local area, then moved on to bigger national and international races.
In 1892, Carlo won two important races: the Lecco-Milano and the Milano-Torino. He quickly became very well-known as one of the best marathon runners of his time. In September 1895, he won the Milano-Barcellona marathon. This big victory earned him 2000 pesetas, which was a lot of money back then!
His Amazing Journey to the Olympics
Carlo Airoldi really wanted to join the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. But he didn't have enough money to travel there. So, he got a clever idea! A popular magazine called La Bicicleta gave him some money. Carlo decided he would run and walk all the way to Athens!
He planned to cover about 70 kilometers (about 43 miles) each day to get there on time. The magazine helped him by reporting on his journey. They also made sure he had food and water along the way.
Carlo started his journey from Milan and reached Split without any problems. For the next part, he planned to run along the Croatian coast. He wanted to go through Kotor and Corfu. However, he had an accident and hurt his hand. He had to rest for two days. People also warned him not to walk through Albania because it could be dangerous. So, he decided to take an Austrian boat to Patras. From there, he would walk the rest of the way to Athens.
Why He Couldn't Compete
After 28 days, Carlo Airoldi finally arrived in Athens! It was an incredible journey. But, he was not allowed to compete in the marathon. The head of the Olympic committee said that Carlo was a "professional athlete." This meant he had earned money from racing, and at that time, only amateur (non-paid) athletes were allowed in the Olympics.
Officials in Italy sent messages to the Olympic committee, trying to help Carlo. But the decision stayed the same. Many Italians felt that Carlo was stopped from competing because the Greeks wanted their own runner to win the marathon. Carlo was very upset. He even challenged the marathon winner, Spiridon Louis, to a race. But Spiridon Louis never accepted his offer.
What Happened After the Olympics?
When Carlo Airoldi returned to Italy, he tried to beat Spiridon Louis's marathon record. He wasn't able to do it. Still, he kept racing in different places like Lombardy, Italy, and Switzerland. After he finished his racing career, Carlo moved to South America.
See also
In Spanish: Carlo Airoldi para niños
