Kharilaos Vasilakos (1877 - 1969) was a Greek athlete. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens. Athletics has been contested at every Summer Olympics since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the 1896 Summer Olympics. ... The 1896 Summer Olympics, formally called the Games of the I Olympiad, were the first modern Summer Olympic Games and the first Games since Roman emperor Theodosius I banned the Ancient Olympic Games in AD 393 as part of the Christian campaign against paganism. ... 1877 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... The 1896 Summer Olympics, formally called the Games of the I Olympiad, were the first modern Summer Olympic Games and the first Games since Roman emperor Theodosius I banned the Ancient Olympic Games in AD 393 as part of the Christian campaign against paganism. ... Athens (Greek: Αθήνα Athína IPA ) is the capital of Greece and one of the most famous cities in the world, named after goddess Athena. ...

Vasilakos was one of 17 athletes to start the marathon race. He finished in second place, behind Spiridon Louis, with a time of 3:06.03 as one of only nine finishers. He had won the Greek qualifying competition (the first marathon race ever held) with a time of 3 hours and 18 minutes. Both races were on 40 kilometre courses rather than the now-standard 42.195 kilometres. Modern day marathon runners The word marathon refers to a long-distance road running event of 42. ... Spiridon Spiros Louis (January 12, 1873 – March 26, 1940) was a Greek water-carrier who won the marathon at the 1896 Summer Olympics, thereby becoming a national hero. ...