Ioannis Theofilakis

Ioannis Theofilakis (Theophilakis) (Greek: Ιωάννης Θεοφιλάκης, 1876–1968) was a Greek shooter who competed at five Olympic games, and one unofficial (Intercalated Games) Olympic Games. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens He also competed at the 1906 Olympic Games in Athens, also called the 1906 Intercalated Games, the 1908 Summer Olympics,the 1912 Summer Olympics, the 1920 Summer Olympics where he won Silver and at the 1924 Summer Olympics

Achievements

Ioannis Theofilakis competed in all five of the shooting events: military rifle, free rifle, military pistol, rapid fire pistol, and free pistol.

In 1896 he competed in two rifle events. In the military rifle, he was placed ninth, with a score of 1,261. In the second string of 10 shots, he scored 312. His score and place in the free rifle event is unknown, except that he did not win a medal.

For the 1906 Olympics there are currently no records found on his achievements, except that he did not win any medals.

In the 1908 Olympics he participated in four events: men's team free rifle, where he placed ninth; men's team military rifle, where he placed seventh; men's individual pistol, where he placed twenty ninth; and men's team pistol, where he placed seventh.

In the 1912 Olympics he participated in eleven events: 25 m team small-bore rifle, where he placed fourth; 50 m team small-bore rifle, where he placed fifth; 30 m team military pistol, where he placed fifth; team rifle, where he placed seventh; 50 m rifle, prone, where he placed thirty-second; 600 m free rifle, where he placed thirty-fourth; 300 m military rifle 3 positions, where he placed seventy-fifth; 25 m small-bore rifle, where he placed twenty-first; 100 m deer single shots, where he placed twenty-ninth; 50 m pistol, where he placed eighteenth; and 25 m rapid fire pistol, where he placed twenty-third.

In the 1920 Olympics he participated in eleven events: 50 m free pistol, where he placed tenth; 50 m small-bore rifle unknown; 300 m rifle 3 positions unknown; 600 m military rifle prone, where he placed fourth; 300 m team military rifle prone, where he placed eleventh; 600 m team military rifle prone, where he placed seventh; 50 m team small-bore rifle, where he placed tenth; 300 m team military rifle standing, where he placed thirteenth; 50 m team free pistol, where he placed fourth; team free rifle, where he placed thirteenth; and 30 m team military pistol, where he placed second (silver).

At the age of 48 in the 1924 Olympics he participated in four events: team free rifle, where he was placed twelfth; 25 m rapid fire pistol, where he was placed fortieth; 50 m rifle prone, where he was placed forty-first; and 600 m free rifle, where he was placed forty first.

Personal

Ioannis Theofilakis, or Theophilakis, was a successful Athens-based lawyer in his civilian life and made his Olympic debut in 1896, the first modern Olympics held in Athens. Married to Angeliki Travasaros (Greek: Αγγελική Τραβασάρου) and father of Elias (Greek: Ηλίας) Theophilakis (1928–2008), who later migrated to Norway, and later daughters Anastasia (Greek: Αναστασία), Alexandra (Greek: Αλεξάνδρα), Dionysia (Greek: Διονυσία) and Sofia (Greek: Σοφία) with second wife Konstandina Rodopoulou (Greek: Κωνσταντίνα Ροδοπούλου). Theofilakis was born in Logkastra, Sparta (Greek: Λογκάστρα, Σπάρτης). He was a keen hunter and together with his brother Alexandros (Greek: Αλέξανδρος Θεοφιλάκης, 1877-1947) he participated in all Olympic games in both pistol and rifle shooting events until 1924. Ioannis Theofilakis served in the Greek military (rank unknown) during the first World War, and during general Metaxas government (1936–1940) he was exiled to the island of Folegandros for political reasons. His wealth and influence greatly diminished after World War II (1940–1944) and the Greek civil war (1946–1949) and kept a small law office for the rest of his career, having had a rather big and profitable law business before the war. A strong willed and opinionated man, famous for his practical jokes, he refused to obey the many curfews ordered by the oppressive military junta (1967–1974) during his last years, and he would on purpose walk about Athens during curfews wearing his WWI medals. Confused and ashamed, the police never dared to arrest the proud old man. He died after returning from a hunting trip having been the victim of a hit and run driver. Badly wounded, he dragged himself to the nearest village only to die at the hospital upon arrival. He was buried at the Metamórfosi Cemetery, where the grave can be found in a prominent position.