Zisimopoulos
All Athletes
Trail & Ultra/Trail

Fotis Zisimopoulos

Greek
4×
Ultra Win
1×
Course Record

THE STORY

Fotis Zisimopoulos is a Greek ultra-runner who has won the Spartathlon four consecutive times, tying Yiannis Kouros for the most men's victories at the legendary Athens-to-Sparta race. A police officer by profession, Zisimopoulos broke through on his Spartathlon debut in 2021 with a winning time of 21:57:20, the second-fastest time in race history at that point.

His 2023 Spartathlon win produced a course record of 19:55:02, the first sub-20-hour finish in race history and a mark that broke a record held for nearly four decades by Yiannis Kouros. Zisimopoulos won again in 2022 (21:00:48) and 2024 (20:18:00), completing his four-peat across consecutive editions of the 246-kilometer race that traces Pheidippides' historical run from Athens to Sparta.

Zisimopoulos has continued to compete at the international ultra-distance level, including 24-hour championship racing. His Spartathlon achievements have made him one of the most recognized ultra-runners in Greek athletics history and a defining figure in the modern era of the country's signature ultra event.

PERSONAL BESTS

246 KM
19:55:02
Athens to SpartaSep 29, 2023
246 KM
20:18:00
Athens to SpartaSep 27, 2024

CAREER TIMELINE

2024
Fourth Spartathlon Win
Won the Spartathlon for the fourth consecutive time, tying Yiannis Kouros for most men's victories at the race.
2023
Sub-20 Hour Spartathlon
Broke the Spartathlon course record with 19:55:02, the first sub-20-hour finish in race history. Broke a 40-year-old record held by Yiannis Kouros.
2022
Second Spartathlon Win
Won the Spartathlon for a second consecutive year in 21:00:48.
2021
Spartathlon Debut Win
Won the Spartathlon on debut in 21:57:20, the second-fastest time in race history at that point.

RACE HISTORY

4 results across 1 race
2024
20:18:00
2023
19:55:02
2022
21:00:48
2021
21:57:20

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