A Cretan ultrarunner crossed the finish line of one of Greece's toughest mountain races holding a Palestinian flag inste...

A Cretan ultrarunner crossed the finish line of one of Greece's toughest mountain races holding a Palestinian flag instead of a Greek one. Giorgos Paterakis won the Virgin Forest Trail 2026, a 162 km race through the Rhodope mountains in Paranesti, completing it in 23 hours, 2 minutes and 14 seconds to take first place. According to Agonas tis Kritis, Paterakis said he wanted to use the visibility of his win to draw attention to what he described as the resistance of the Palestinian people. He had finished second in the same race in 2024, making this year's victory his first at the VFT. The Virgin Forest Trail is considered one of the most demanding ultramarathon events in Greece, running through remote terrain in the Rhodope mountain range. Paterakis also used his post-race statements to call for the protection of the surrounding forest, saying it may be the last one of its kind left in Greece and that it needs to be guarded carefully. #Greece #Ultramarathon #Palestine