Dragutin Tomašević
Dragutin Tomašević (Serbian Cyrillic: Драгутин Томашевић; 20 April 1890 – October 1915) was a Serbian track and field athlete and gymnast who competed in the men's marathon at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, the first Olympic Games in which Serbia participated. He was also chosen to be Serbia's flag bearer at that year's opening ceremony, thereby becoming the first Serbian to carry his country's flag at the Olympic Games.
Tomašević at the 1912 Summer Olympics | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Dragutin Tomašević |
| Nationality | Serbian |
| Born | 20 April 1890 Bistrica, Serbia |
| Died | October 1915 (aged 25) Rašanac, Serbia |
| Sport | |
| Country | Serbia |
| Sport | Athletics |
The men's marathon, which lasted 40.2 kilometres (25.0 mi), took place on 14 July amid record heat; half the runners did not finish. Tomašević emerged from the marathon "battered and bruised", finishing 37th out of sixty-eight runners in two hours and 47 minutes. The cause of his injuries remains unknown, but one modern sports writer speculates that Tomašević may have suffered a fall during the run.
Following the outbreak of World War I, Tomašević was conscripted by the Royal Serbian Army. He was killed during a skirmish with soldiers of the Imperial German Army in October 1915. Following his death, he became the subject of several urban legends concerning his athletic prowess. Tomašević's native village contains a museum dedicated to his sporting achievements. A commemorative marathon named after Tomašević is held in his native Petrovac na Mlavi every year and a street in Belgrade carries his name.