More than 70,000 spectators were waiting at the Panathenaic Stadium for the first runner to appear. Countless more lined the nearby streets and the surrounding hills but no one knew what time the race had begun. A rumour spread that an Australian was leading the race and the disappointment was palpable when, suddenly, the man who fired the pistol in Marathon arrived and informed the king that Louis was at the head of the pack. Almost immediately a cannon shot announced the arrival of the Greek runner. The crowd went wild as the princes entered the track to accompany the winner, while the king stood and waived his naval hat. Louis finished the race in 2 hours, 58’ and 50’’.