Spyros Spyrou ( el, Σπύρος Σπύρου; born 6 June 1958) is a

Cypriot Cypriot (in older sources often "Cypriote") refers to someone or something of, from, or related to the country of Cyprus. * Cypriot people, or of Cypriot descent; this includes: **Armenian Cypriots **Greek Cypriots **Maronite Cypriots **Turkish C ...

middle-distance runner Middle-distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle-distance event. The 1 ...

who competed in the

800 metres The 800 metres, or meters ( US spelling), is a common track running event. It is the shortest commonly run middle-distance running event. The 800 metres is run over two laps of an outdoor (400-metre) track and has been an Olympic event since the ...

and the

1500 metres The 1500 metres or 1,500-metre run (typically pronounced 'fifteen-hundred metres') is the foremost middle distance track event in athletics. The distance has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896 and the World Championships in Athletic ...

. He represented his country in the men's 1500 metres and the men's 800 metres at the

1988 Summer Olympics The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly known as Seoul 1988 ( ko, 서울 1988, Seoul Cheon gubaek palsip-pal), was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October ...

. He was a semi-finalist in the 1500 m, ranking tenth. After his active career he became a athletics coach, coaching several international athletes. He is regarded as one of the best Cypriot coaches.

Biography

Born in

Palaikythro Palaikythro ( gr, Παλαίκυθρο, tr, Balıkesir) is a village in the Nicosia District of Cyprus, located 6 km south of Kythrea Kythrea ( el, Κυθρέα or ; tr, Değirmenlik) is a small town in Cyprus, 10 km northeast of N ...

,Spyros Spyrou
Olympedia. Retrieved 2023-08-28. he competed in sports from a young age and graduated from the National Academy of Physical Education in Cyprus. He later married fellow Cypriot runn

Dora Kyriakou Theodora "Dora" Kyriakou (Greek: Θεοδώρα "Δώρα" Κυριάκου; born 3 July 1967) is a retired Cypriot sprinter who competed primarily in the 200 and 400 metres. She represented her country at the 1996 Summer Olympics as well as thre ...

, having a son, Stavros. He works as an athletics coach at

GSP Stadium Gymnastic Club "The Pancyprians" Stadium (GSP Stadium) ( el, Στάδιο Γυμναστικός Σύλλογος "Τα Παγκύπρια") is a football stadium in Strovolos, Nicosia District, Cyprus. Although small by international standar ...

. He represented Cyprus internationally at the

1983 World Championships in Athletics The 1st 1983 World Championships in Athletics were run under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations and were held at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland between 7 and 14 August 1983. Summary The overall med ...

, the

European Athletics Championships The European Athletics Championships is a biennial (from 2010) athletics event organised by the European Athletics Association and is recognised as the elite continental outdoor athletics championships for Europe. Editions First held, for men ...

(1982 and 1986), the

1982 Commonwealth Games The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Australia, from 30 September to 9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium (named after Elizabeth II), in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the a ...

, and the

1986 IAAF World Cross Country Championships The 1986 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Colombier, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, at the Planeyse Colombier on March 23, 1986. A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald and in the Evening Times. Complete results f ...

.Spyros Spyrou
World Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-28. In his final appearance at an international competition, he won gold in both the 800 m and 1500 m at the

1989 Games of the Small States of Europe The III Games of the Small States of Europe were held in 1989 by the Republic of Cyprus. The majority of events including the opening and closing ceremonies took place at the Makario Stadium, while the indoor events were held at the Lefkotheo Th ...

held in his native

Nicosia Nicosia ( ; el, Λευκωσία, Lefkosía ; tr, Lefkoşa ; hy, Նիկոսիա, romanized: ''Nikosia''; Cypriot Arabic: Nikusiya) is the largest city, capital, and seat of government of Cyprus. It is located near the centre of the Mesaor ...

. His winning time of 1:51.51 minutes in the 800 m was a Games record. Spyrou is the Cypriot national record holder in the

, with his best of 1:47.17 minutes standing since 1983 with his run at the

1983 Mediterranean Games The IX Mediterranean Games ( ar, ألعاب البحر الأبيض المتوسط 1983), commonly known as the 1983 Mediterranean Games, were the 9th Mediterranean Games. The Games were held in Casablanca, Morocco, from 3 to 17 September 1983, ...

. This is one of the longest-standing national records for the sport in Cyprus. Spyrou became after his athletics career a athletics coach. He coaches his son Stavros, who broke the Cypriot under-23 record for the 800 metres. He also serves as the national distance running coach for Cyprus, and coached Cypriot record holder

Natalia Evangelidou Natalia Evangelidou ( gr, Ναταλία Ευαγγελίδου; born 10 March 1991) is a Cypriot middle-distance runner competing primarily in the 800 metres. She represented her country at the 2014 Commonwealth Games without qualifying from the ...

.Δουλειά και αισιοδοξία
. Goal (2018-12-04). Retrieved 2023-08-29. His coaching group achieved first place in both men's and women's sections of the national championships in 2019.spyros-spyroy-apologismos-kai-aisiodoxia
. Action In Sports. Retrieved 2023-08-29. He is regarded as one of the best Cypriot coaches.

International competitions

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spyrou, Spyros 1958 births Living people People from Nicosia District Cypriot male middle-distance runners Cypriot male cross country runners Olympic male middle-distance runners Olympic athletes for Cyprus Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics Commonwealth Games competitors for Cyprus Athletes (track and field) at the 1982 Commonwealth Games World Athletics Championships athletes for Cyprus