A gold medal in the 200 metre military rifle event at the 1896 Summer Olympics defined the early career of Pantelis Karasevdas. At nineteen years of age, he recorded a victory by scoring 2,350 points and successfully hitting the target with every one of his forty shots during the competition held in Athens.
Olympic and Sporting Leadership
Beyond his success in the military rifle event, Karasevdas participated in the 300 metre free rifle competition, securing fifth place among twenty official starters with a score of 1,039. In the military pistol event, he withdrew after firing two of five strings of six shots. Later in his life, he contributed to the administration of Greek athletics. He served as president of Panathinaikos A.C. Furthermore, he led Panellinios G.S. between 1925 and 1935 and held a position within the Greek Olympic Committee during that same decade.
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Born in Astakos in 1877, Karasevdas pursued law studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He transitioned into a career as a military officer, participating in major conflicts including the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and the First Balkan War, where he sustained serious injuries in Samos. His commitment to military service extended through the Greek Resistance during World War II as a member of the National Liberation Front. Politically, he emerged as a prominent Venizelist and anti-Royalist figure, securing election to the Hellenic Parliament in 1910 and winning two subsequent parliamentary terms.
Legacy and Affiliations
Throughout his life, Karasevdas maintained strong ties to athletic organizations. He was associated with the Panachaikos Gymnastikos Syllogos, which merged with Gymnastiki Etaireia Patron in 1923 to form Panachaiki Gymnastiki Enosi. Having lived through the era where organized sport underwent early codification and rule establishment, his professional life bridged the gap between competitive athletics and national governance. He died on 14 March 1946 in Agrinio, having served his country in both political and military capacities.
Fast facts
- Born: 1877, Astakos
- Died: 14 March 1946, Agrinio
- Education: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Olympic Medal: Gold, 200 metre military rifle, 1896
- Parliamentary Service: Elected 1910
- Military Affiliation: National Liberation Front
- Greek Olympic Committee tenure: 1924-1935
Questions readers ask
What shooting events did Karasevdas compete in at the 1896 Olympics?
He competed in the 200 metre military rifle, the 300 metre free rifle, and the military pistol event.
Which political organization was he involved with during World War II?
He was a member of the National Liberation Front.
Achievements
- Competed at shooting at the 1896 Summer Olympics – men's 200 metre military rifle
- Discipline: shooting sports and competitive swimming
