Angelos Fetsis

During his life Angelos Fetsis was a military officer, track athlete, gymnast, journalist, and publisher. Fetsis was born in Lefkada before moving to Athína when he was 13-years-old. After graduating from law school he became a second lieutenant where he served as a reserve non-commissioned officer in the Balkan Wars during 1912 and 1913.

Fetsis was a champion athlete, winning the 800 metres and the 1,500 metres at the first edition of the Panhellenic Athletics Championship in March 1896. The following month he competed in the same two events for Greece at the Athína Olympics. He did not replicate his earlier success after not advancing out of his heat in the 800 metres and failing to finish in the 1,500 metres. At the time of the Olympics Fetsis was a member of the Athlitikos Omilos Athinon athletics club until its dissolution, when he became a member of Ethnikos G.S. Athína. While at Ethnikos he founded the fencing department, became a director of the club’s gymnasium, and was on the committee of the Hellenic Athletics Federation.

As a gymnast coach Fetsis also taught children about scouting where he was a pioneer in starting events for youngsters in Greece. While working at the Varvakeio High School Fetsis coached students in swimming and judged wrestling matches. As a journalist and writer he published a successful sports magazine.