|
Accordingtolegend,theancientOlympicGameswerefoundedbyHeracles(theRomanHercules),asonofZeus.YetthefirstOlympicGamesforwhichwestillhavewrittenrecordswereheldin776BCE(thoughitisgenerallybelievedthattheGameshadbeengoingonformanyyearsalready).AtthisOlympicGames,anakedrunner,Coroebus,wonthesoleeventattheOlympics,thestade-arunofapproximately192meters(210yards).ThismadeCoroebustheveryfirstOlympicchampioninhistory.TheancientOlympicGamesgrewandcontinuedtobeplayedeveryfouryearsfornearly1200years.AtancientOlympicGames,womenwerenotallowedtocompete,eventobethespectators.Therewerefewerevents,andonlyfreemenwhospokeGreekcouldcompete,insteadofathletesfromanycountry.Also,thegameswerealwaysheldatOlympiainsteadofmovingaroundtodifferentsiteseverytime. |
