Jim Londos: The Greek Shepherd Who Conquered the Wrestling World

Jim Londos. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Public Domain

The communicative of Jim Londos, calved Christos Theofilou (January 2, 1894 – August 19, 1975), could beryllium described arsenic the archetypal communicative of success.

Theofilou was conscionable different young, impoverished Greek who decided to determination to the United States successful the aboriginal 20th century, lone to go 1 of the astir salient sports figures of his time.

Londos was calved successful Koutsopodi, Argolis, Greece, arsenic the youngest of thirteen children of his parents, Theophilos and Maria.

Greek migrant Jim Londos became a wrestling sensation

He began his vocation arsenic a humble shepherd; however, soon afterward, helium decided to effort his destiny connected the different broadside of the Atlantic, arsenic millions of different Europeans were doing astatine that time, by emigrating to the United States.

Theofilou took dozens of jobs to get by, including operation jobs and adjacent posing successful the nude for fig drafting classes, which were precise fashionable astatine the time.

The young man’s begetter had really been an amateur wrestler arsenic well, but contempt this, Christos had ne'er truly entertained the thought of becoming 1 himself.

It was lone erstwhile helium landed a occupation arsenic a “catcher” successful a carnival acrobatic enactment that helium was exposed to nonrecreational wrestling with existent athletes; helium past began training.

Theofilou had his archetypal lucifer successful 1912 erstwhile helium decided to look arsenic Christopher Theophilus, an Anglicized mentation of his existent name.

His matches attracted galore fans, and his estimation grew quickly.

Theofilou changed his sanction to Jim Londos aft gaining immoderate popularity connected the mat.

Londos’ estimation did not conscionable turn successful the US; helium became a existent nationalist leader successful his autochthonal Greece arsenic well, pursuing his accelerated maturation arsenic a nonrecreational wrestler.

Newspaper clippings from the archetypal fractional of the 20th period intelligibly amusement however his chap Greeks adored him.

His matches successful Greece attracted tens of thousands of spectators, making him a surviving fable of the time.

Londos made past with his superlative performances, yet becoming known arsenic ”The Golden Greek” owed to his achievements.

He won aggregate titles and competed successful a full of 32 antithetic countries.

Londos was renowned for his willingness to wrestle arsenic often arsenic imaginable and had a coagulated basal of faithful fans connected the East Coast during those glory days of nonrecreational wrestling.

A fewer years earlier his authoritative retirement, Londos joined Arva Rochwite, with whom helium had 3 daughters: Diana, Demetra, and Christina.

After helium retired, Londos dedicated his beingness to charitable causes, specified arsenic the Greek War Orphans World War II Organization.

Because of his galore years of philanthropic work, Londos was honored some by United States President Richard Nixon and King Paul of Greece.

Londos’ household lived successful California, wherever the large antheral died successful 1975, astatine the property of 81.