First Olympic marathon trophy fetches top price

LONDON: A trophy won by Greek runner Spyros Louis during the first Olympic marathon in 1896 fetched a record price at auction in London Wednesday where it was sold for 541,250 pounds (861,129 dollars), auction house Christie's said.

The unique silver cup broke the world record price for an item of Olympic memorabilia sold at auction, said Christie's. It had been estimated to fetch between 120,000 and 160,000 pounds.

It was bought by an anonymous telephone bidder, said the auction house.

However, Greek radio reports said the trophy remained in Greek hands. It was bought by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, which was founded in 1996 to honour the Greek shipping magnate, the reports said.

Louis was awarded the trophy, a silver medal, an antique vase, an olive branch and a diploma by Greece's King George I for the victory in the 40-kilometre marathon in the first modern Olympics.