A. Papamichail
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OlympianOlympic GamesLondon 2012Rio 2016Tokyo 2020 Race walker · Greece

AlexandrosPapamichail

Αλέξανδρος Παπαμιχαήλ

Mid-race portrait of Alexandros Papamichail in Berlin
European Championships, Berlin 2018

The fastest Greek in history over 20 km, 35 km and 50 km. Seven senior Balkan titles. Two decades at the top, and the next target is Beijing 2027.

3
Olympic Games
7
World Championships
22
National records broken
8
Balkan gold medals
01 · About
Portrait of Alexandros Papamichail in the Greece national team vest

From Karditsa to three Olympic Games. Racing for Greece since he was fifteen, and not finished yet.

Alexandros made his international debut in 2004 and has since raced 66 international competitions. At the London 2012 Olympic Games he broke the Greek records over both 20 km and 50 km inside a single week. Both still stand.

He added the national 35 km record at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, and the 5000 m indoor record in Piraeus in 2024. At home he has won 44 medals at the Greek Championships, 42 of them gold.

Born
18 September 1988, Karditsa
Club
Pammiliakos A.C.
Events
20 · 35 · 50 km race walk, Marathon
Education
BSc Physical Education & Sport Science, University of Thessaly
02 · Personal bests

Records

NRCurrent Greek national record

Event Time Set at
20 km 1:21:12 NR Olympic Games, London 2012
35 km 2:34:48 NR World Championships, Eugene 2022
50 km 3:49:56 NR Olympic Games, London 2012
5000 m indoor 19:01.44 NR Piraeus 2024
Marathon 3:18:25 European Championships, Birmingham 2026
Alexandros Papamichail beside the timing board reading 19:01.44
19:01.44 — national record, 5000 m indoor, Piraeus 2024

National titles

  • 20 km15×
  • 5000 m indoor10×
  • 35 km4×
  • 10 km2×
  • 50 km1×
  • Marathon1×

44 medals in total at the Greek Championships, from U18 to senior level: 42 gold and 2 silver.

How the 22 records fell

One line per age group and event. Each arrow is a run that beat the standing record, his own or somebody else's.

  1. Senior20 km
    1:21:19 · Lugano, 18 Mar 20121:21:12 · Olympic Games, London, 4 Aug 2012
  2. Senior35 km
    Megara, 28 Feb 20212:34:48 · World Championships, Eugene, 24 Jul 2022
  3. Senior50 km
    3:49:56 · Olympic Games, London, 11 Aug 2012
  4. Senior5000 m indoor
    Piraeus, 10 Feb 2013Piraeus, 2 Feb 2014Piraeus, 14 Feb 201519:08.74 · Piraeus, 13 Feb 201619:01.44 · Piraeus, 17 Feb 2024
  5. SeniorMarathon mixed relay
    3:10:11 · World Team Championships, Antalya, 21 Apr 20243:05:08 · Dublin, 22 Jun 2024
  6. U2320 km
    1:25:08 · Bucharest, 25 Apr 20091:25:06 · Kaunas, 18 Jul 2009
  7. U2010,000 m
    43:08 · Istanbul, 21 Apr 2006Megara, 18 Mar 200742:09 · Galați, 14 Apr 200742:04 · Hengelo, 21 Jul 2007
  8. U1810,000 m
    46:40 · Reșița, 3 Apr 2004Aspropyrgos, 20 Mar 2005Argos, 25 Jun 2005
  9. U185000 m
    21:36 · Barcelona, 4 Jun 2005

BRBalkan U20 record · 10,000 m in 42:09 · Galați, Romania, 14 Apr 2007

03 · Race calendar

Next start line

The Beijing 2027 qualifying window for the race walks runs from 23 February 2026 to 22 August 2027.

Latest result15 August 2026

European Championships

Birmingham, UK · Marathon · 21st · 3:18:25

Target11–19 September 2027

World Championships

Beijing, China · Marathon race walk

Alexandros Papamichail race walking for Greece past the European Championships banner, Munich 2022
European Championships, Munich 2022
04 · Career

Major championships

2026
European ChampionshipsBirmingham
21st · Marathon · 3:18:25
2025
World ChampionshipsTokyo
29th · 35 km · 2:42:07
2024
European ChampionshipsRome
competed
2023
World ChampionshipsBudapest
38th · 20 km · 1:24:26
2022
European ChampionshipsMunich
competed
2022
World ChampionshipsEugene
29th · 35 km · 2:34:48 NR
2021
Olympic GamesTokyo (Sapporo)
36th · 50 km · 4:12:49
2019
World ChampionshipsDoha
17th · 50 km · 4:22:39
2018
European ChampionshipsBerlin
15th · 20 km · 1:22:51
2017
World ChampionshipsLondon
42nd · 20 km · 1:23:56
2016
Olympic GamesRio de Janeiro
28th · 50 km · 3:59:21
20th · 20 km · 1:21:55
2015
World ChampionshipsBeijing
25th · 20 km · 1:24:11
2014
European ChampionshipsZurich
12th · 50 km · 3:49:58
2013
World ChampionshipsMoscow
15th · 20 km · 1:23:48
2012
Olympic GamesLondon
22nd · 50 km · 3:49:56 NR
15th · 20 km · 1:21:12 NR
2009
European U23 ChampionshipsKaunas
6th · 20 km · 1:25:06 NR U23
2007
European Junior ChampionshipsHengelo
5th · 10,000 m · 42:04 NR U20
2006
World Junior ChampionshipsBeijing
9th · 10,000 m · 44:36
12
Balkan Championship medals, 8 gold
44
Greek Championship medals, 42 gold
66
International competitions, 2004–2026

Balkan medals

  • 1 2026 Izmir Half marathon 1:31:44
  • 1 2025 Astros 35 km 2:39:04
  • 1 2024 Antalya 20 km 1:22:33
  • 1 2023 Antalya 35 km 2:37:25
  • 1 2022 Athens 35 km 2:39:46
  • 1 2019 Alexandroupoli 20 km 1:24:40
  • 1 2017 Florina 20 km 1:26:40
  • 3 2011 Bucharest 20 km 1:24:56
  • 3 2009 Bucharest 20 km 1:25:08
  • 1 2007 Galați 10,000 m 42:09
  • 2 2006 Istanbul 10,000 m 43:08
  • 3 2005 Preveza 10,000 m 45:50
Show all 66 competitionsCollapse

66 international competitions, 2004–2026, most recent first.

Every international start
Date Pos. Competition Venue Event Time
15 Aug 2026 21 European Championships Birmingham, UK Marathon 3:18:25
14 Mar 2026 1 Balkan Race Walking Championships Izmir, Türkiye Half marathon 1:31:44
13 Sep 2025 29 World Championships Tokyo, Japan 35 km 2:42:07
18 May 2025 20 European Race Walking Team Championships Poděbrady, Czechia 20 km 1:23:54
26 Apr 2025 2 International race walking meeting Borský Mikuláš, Slovakia 10,000 m 40:40
12 Apr 2025 1 Balkan Race Walking Championships Astros, Greece 35 km 2:39:04
22 Jun 2024 3 International race walking meetingMarathon race walk mixed relay Dublin, Ireland Marathon 3:05:08NR
25 May 2024 8 International race walking meeting Borský Mikuláš, Slovakia 20 km 1:22:16
21 Apr 2024 – World Race Walking Team ChampionshipsMarathon race walk mixed relay Antalya, Türkiye Marathon 3:10:11NR
16 Mar 2024 10 International race walking meeting Dudince, Slovakia 20 km 1:21:55
9 Mar 2024 1 Balkan Race Walking Championships Antalya, Türkiye 20 km 1:22:33
28 Oct 2023 8 International race walking meeting Zittau, Germany 20 km 1:23:41
19 Aug 2023 38 World Championships Budapest, Hungary 20 km 1:24:26
21 May 2023 19 European Race Walking Team Championships Poděbrady, Czechia 20 km 1:24:52
9 Apr 2023 1 Balkan Race Walking Championships Antalya, Türkiye 35 km 2:37:25
24 Jul 2022 29 World Championships Eugene, USA 35 km 2:34:48NR
3 Apr 2022 1 Balkan Race Walking Championships Athens, Greece 35 km 2:39:46
6 Aug 2021 36 Olympic Games Tokyo (Sapporo), Japan 50 km 4:12:49
20 Mar 2021 9 International race walking meeting Dudince, Slovakia 50 km 3:51:03
28 Sep 2019 17 World Championships Doha, Qatar 50 km 4:22:39
19 May 2019 11 European Race Walking Cup Alytus, Lithuania 50 km 3:56:19
20 Apr 2019 1 Balkan Race Walking Championships Alexandroupoli, Greece 20 km 1:24:40
6 Apr 2019 18 International race walking meeting Rio Maior, Portugal 20 km 1:24:30
11 Aug 2018 15 European Championships Berlin, Germany 20 km 1:22:51
9 Jun 2018 2 International race walking meeting Simnas, Lithuania 5000 m 19:31
8 Jun 2018 6 International race walking meeting Alytus, Lithuania 20 km 1:24:55
7 Apr 2018 6 International race walking meeting Rio Maior, Portugal 20 km 1:22:48
13 Aug 2017 42 World Championships London, UK 20 km 1:23:56
21 May 2017 25 European Race Walking Cup Poděbrady, Czechia 20 km 1:23:53
8 Apr 2017 1 Balkan Race Walking Championships Florina, Greece 20 km 1:26:40
1 Apr 2017 8 International race walking meeting Rio Maior, Portugal 20 km 1:22:46
19 Aug 2016 28 Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 50 km 3:59:21
12 Aug 2016 20 Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 20 km 1:21:55
7 May 2016 17 World Race Walking Cup Rome, Italy 20 km 1:21:32
19 Mar 2016 5 International race walking meeting Dudince, Slovakia 20 km 1:21:48
23 Aug 2015 25 World Championships Beijing, China 20 km 1:24:11
17 May 2015 6 European Race Walking Cup Murcia, Spain 50 km 3:51:38
15 Mar 2015 5 International race walking meeting Lugano, Switzerland 20 km 1:22:43
15 Aug 2014 12 European Championships Zurich, Switzerland 50 km 3:49:58
16 Mar 2014 9 International race walking meeting Lugano, Switzerland 20 km 1:23:04
11 Aug 2013 15 World Championships Moscow, Russia 20 km 1:23:48
19 May 2013 10 European Race Walking Cup Dudince, Slovakia 50 km 3:51:06
11 Aug 2012 22 Olympic Games London, UK 50 km 3:49:56NR
4 Aug 2012 15 Olympic Games London, UK 20 km 1:21:12NR
24 Mar 2012 5 International race walking meeting Dudince, Slovakia 50 km 3:55:13
18 Mar 2012 10 International race walking meeting Lugano, Switzerland 20 km 1:21:19NR
23 Oct 2011 1 International race walking meeting Bergamo, Italy 20 km 1:23:21
26 Jun 2011 15 International race walking meeting Dublin, Ireland 20 km 1:25:35
9 Apr 2011 3 Balkan Race Walking Championships Bucharest, Romania 20 km 1:24:56
11 Jun 2010 5 International race walking meeting Alytus, Lithuania 20 km 1:30:52
18 Jul 2009 6 European U23 Championships Kaunas, Lithuania 20 km 1:25:06NR U23
30 Jun 2009 6 Mediterranean Games Pescara, Italy 20 km 1:28:04
24 May 2009 22 European Race Walking Cup Metz, France 20 km 1:33:31
25 Apr 2009 3 Balkan Race Walking Championships Bucharest, Romania 20 km 1:25:08NR U23
12 Apr 2008 4 Balkan Race Walking Championships Bucharest, Romania 20 km 1:31:09
21 Jul 2007 5 European Junior Championships Hengelo, Netherlands 10,000 m 42:04NR U20
20 May 2007 13 European Race Walking Cup, U20 Leamington Spa, UK 10,000 m 43:29
14 Apr 2007 1 Balkan Race Walking Championships, U20 Galați, Romania 10,000 m 42:09BR U20NR U20
19 Aug 2006 9 World Junior Championships Beijing, China 10,000 m 44:36
13 May 2006 10 World Race Walking Cup, U20 A Coruña, Spain 10,000 m 43:31
21 Apr 2006 2 Balkan Race Walking Championships, U20 Istanbul, Türkiye 10,000 m 43:08NR U20
4 Jun 2005 5 International meeting Barcelona, Spain 5000 m 21:36NR U18
21 May 2005 21 European Race Walking Cup, U20 Miskolc, Hungary 10,000 m 45:29
23 Apr 2005 3 Balkan Race Walking Championships, U20 Preveza, Greece 10,000 m 45:50
1 May 2004 39 World Race Walking Cup, U20 Naumburg, Germany 10,000 m 46:53
3 Apr 2004 6 Balkan Race Walking Championships, U20 Reșița, Romania 10,000 m 46:40NR U18

Placings at the Olympic Games and the World and European Championships are the official World Athletics results. Information as of September 2026.

Alexandros Papamichail racing for Greece at the European Championships, Rome 2024
European Championships, Rome 2024
06 · Off the course

He does not walk alone

At every race in Greece there is a banner, a row of children with hand-made signs and a queue for autographs. Alexandros gives his time to young athletes at schools and meets across the country, because race walking in Greece needs the next generation.

Alexandros Papamichail kneeling between two children holding signed autographs
With young fans, Tokyo 2025
Alexandros Papamichail signing autographs for children
Signing after the race
Supporters holding a banner for Alexandros Papamichail
The home-town banner
Children holding hand-made signs at the roadside
Children at the roadside
07 · Partners

Go the distance with us

The road to Beijing 2027 is open to brands that back endurance, discipline and Greek sport.

Become a partner
Alexandros Papamichail with medals and trophy in Izmir

Partners and supporters