Ioannis Frangoudis facts for kids
Photo of Frangoudis c. 1896
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Native name | Ιωάννης Φραγκούδης | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 1863 Zakynthos, United States of the Ionian Islands (now Greece) |
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| Died | 19 October 1916 (aged 52) New York City, United States |
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| Alma mater | Hellenic Military Academy | |||||||||||||||||||
| Military career | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Greece |
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| Service/ |
 Hellenic Army |
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| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
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| Battles/wars | Greco-Turkish War (1897) Balkan Wars |
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| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Greece |
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| Sport | Shooting | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Ioannis Frangoudis (Greek: Ιωάννης Φραγκούδης; 1863 – 19 October 1916) was a brave Greek soldier and an amazing athlete. He became a high-ranking officer in the Greek army. In 1896, he competed in the very first modern Olympic Games held in Athens. What makes him special is that he's the only Greek athlete to ever win a gold, a silver, and a bronze medal all in the same Olympics!
Contents
Ioannis Frangoudis: Soldier and Olympian
Ioannis Frangoudis was born in Zakynthos, a Greek island, in 1863. His family was from Limassol, Cyprus, which was part of the Ottoman Empire at the time. His father worked as a consul, which is like a diplomat representing his country in a foreign city.
Early Life and Military Career
Frangoudis studied at the Hellenic Military Academy and finished his training in 1885. He quickly moved up the ranks in the Greek army. By the time the 1896 Olympics happened, he was a captain.
After the Greco-Turkish War in 1897, he became a colonel. He even became good friends with King George I of Greece. Frangoudis was present when the King was sadly assassinated. He helped to take the person responsible, Alexandros Schinas, into custody.
His Final Mission
Ioannis Frangoudis passed away on October 19, 1916. He was visiting New York City in the United States for an important mission. He was there to get supplies for the Greek army. Sadly, he died in an accident involving electricity.
Olympic Achievements
Frangoudis was not just a soldier; he was also a talented shooter. At the 1896 Athens Olympics, he competed in four out of five shooting events. He also helped organize the shooting competition as the secretary of the Sub-Committee for Shooting.
Rifle and Pistol Events
In the free rifle event, Frangoudis started very strong. He was in the lead after his first set of 10 shots. However, his scores changed a lot during the competition. He ended up winning the silver medal, coming in second place. His countryman, Georgios Orfanidis, won the gold.
Frangoudis showed his skill in the rapid fire pistol event. He won the gold medal, beating Georgios Orfanidis and two other shooters. He also earned a bronze medal in the free pistol event. He finished behind Sumner Paine and Holger Nielsen. Frangoudis also competed in the military pistol event, where he placed fourth.
His amazing performance at the 1896 Olympics made him the only Greek athlete to win a gold, a silver, and a bronze medal all in one Olympic Games!
See also
In Spanish: Ioannis Phrangoudis para niños
