Enhanced photograph from part of the "The Spirit Of The Marathon" sculpted by Mico Kaufman. As the winner of the 50th Boston Marathon, Kyriakides used his triumph to draw attention to the plight of his war and famine-ravaged homeland following World War II. Emaciated and having narrowly escaped execution during the Nazi occupation of Greece, Kyriakides hadn't raced in six years when he came to Boston in 1946. Despite being told by doctors in Boston that he shouldn't run, Kyriakides ended up recording a mythic performance, defeating defending champion Johnny Kelley. With victory as a public platform, Kyriakides then went on to serve as an unofficial ambassador for his country, raising money for reconstruction and strengthening international ties between the United States and Greece.