INCREDIBLE OLYMPICS
DISCOVER THE HISTORY, ATHLETICISM AND TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS CREATED THE BIGGEST SPORTING EVENT IN THE WORLD
Words by Scott Dutfield
The modern-day games
12 OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS FROM THE SUMMER OLYMPICS
More than 2,700 years ago, crowds cheered as ancient Greek athletes battled it out to become the first Olympians. But the ancient games were a far cry from modern events. Lasting only five days, events were limited to boxing, wrestling, running, jumping, throwing and chariot racing, in which athletes typically competed in the nude. In Greek mythology, it was the son of Zeus, Heracles, who held the first Olympic Games to showcase his supernatural strength. However, it was a mere mortal who was first to claim the title of champion.
The original Olympic Games date back to 776 BCE and were held in Olympia, Greece. The first Olympic victor, a cook called Coroebus of Elis, won the first-ever Olympic event, a 192-metre foot race, or ‘stadion’.
From then on, ancient Greeks convened every four years to showcase the next instalment of Olympians in an evergrowing number of disciplines. The reason the games are held in four-year intervals is because of the way the ancient Greeks measured time. Instead of the 12 months that make up the modern-day year, ancient Greek calendars were written in ‘Olympiads’ that equated to four years. The games were held at each new Olympiad, and even as calendars evolved, the tradition of waiting four years for the next event remained. The ancient games lasted through to 393 CE, and it wasn’t until the late 1800s that the Olympics returned with a modern makeover.