Greece guaranteed themselves at least one gold medal at the first Modern Olympics in Athens in 1896 when they created a special event: the 100 metres freestyle swimming race for members of the Greek navy. Three men entered, with Ioannis Malokinis taking the gold in a time of 2min 20.4sec. That was almost a full minute slower than the 1:22.2 by Hungary's Alfréd Hajós that won the open, non-sailor 100m freestyle race.