Spyros Spyrou (runner)

Spyros Spyrou (Σπύρος Σπύρου; born 6 June 1958) is a Cypriot middle-distance runner who competed in the 800 metres and the 1500 metres. He represented his country in the men's 1500 metres and the men's 800 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He was a semi-finalist in the 1500 m, ranking tenth. After his active career he became a athletics coach, coaching several international athletes. He is regarded as one of the best Cypriot coaches.

Biography
Born in Palaikythro, he competed in sports from a young age and graduated from the National Academy of Physical Education in Cyprus. He later married fellow Cypriot runn Dora Kyriakou, having a son, Stavros. He works as an athletics coach at GSP Stadium.

He represented Cyprus internationally at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics, the European Athletics Championships (1982 and 1986), the 1982 Commonwealth Games, and the 1986 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. In his final appearance at an international competition, he won gold in both the 800 m and 1500 m at the 1989 Games of the Small States of Europe held in his native Nicosia. His winning time of 1:51.51 minutes in the 800 m was a Games record.

Spyrou is the Cypriot national record holder in the 800 metres, with his best of 1:47.17 minutes standing since 1983 with his run at the 1983 Mediterranean Games. This is one of the longest-standing national records for the sport in Cyprus.

Spyrou became after his athletics career a athletics coach. He coaches his son Stavros, who broke the Cypriot under-23 record for the 800 metres. He also serves as the national distance running coach for Cyprus, and coached Cypriot record holder Natalia Evangelidou. His coaching group achieved first place in both men's and women's sections of the national championships in 2019. He is regarded as one of the best Cypriot coaches.