Share
1 of 4
Breal's silver cup -- presented at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 -- has sold at auction for £541,000. The cup is just 15 centimetres high but beautifully decorated in the art nouveau style. Christie's images Ltd
Spyros Louis (1873-1940) was presented with the cup after winning the marathon event at the inaugural Olympic Games in Athens. Even now in Greece, over 70 years after his death, his name remains a synonym for moving at speed. Christie's images Ltd
Frenchman Michel Breal -- pictured here on the beach in St Cast, Brittany in 1897 --pressured organizers to include the marathon in the Games. As an incentive, Breal provided the special cup for the winner. Katharine Brunt
Spyros Louis, a retired civil servant and grandson of the great athlete, reluctantly decided to sell the cup in order to provide for his two children. Eleni Lambridis
