Ancient Greek sport

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• Ancient Greek sport

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What were Ancient Greek sports like?

• The ancient Olympics were rather different from
  the modern Games. There were fewer events, and
  only free men who spoke Greek could compete.
  Also, the games were always held at Olympia
  instead of moving around to different sites every
  time.

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Greek Olympic heroes!

• Phidipedes was the best Olympic runner, he ran
  from Athens to Sparta, 150 miles, then to
  Marathon,26 miles, and then back to Athens,124
  miles! He ran 300 miles! Silly fool. When he had
  told the people of Athens of the victory, his
  heart gave out and he died.

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Running!

• There were 4 types of races at Olympia. The
  stadion was the oldest event of the Games.
  Runners sprinted the length of the stadium. The
  other races were a 2-stade race and a
  long-distance run needed during their military
  service.
• And if these races weren't enough, the Greeks had
  one particularly grueling event which we lack.
  There was also a 2 to 4-stade race by athletes in
  armor. This race was especially useful in
  building the speed and stamina that Greek men
  needed!

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Boxing!

• Ancient boxing had fewer rules than the modern
  sport. Boxers fought without rounds until one man
  was knocked out, or admitted he had been beaten.
  Unlike the modern sport, there was no rule
  against hitting an opponent when he was down.
  There were no weight classes within the men's'
  and boys' divisions opponents for a match were
  chosen randomly. Instead of gloves, ancient
  boxers wrapped leather thongs around their hands
  and wrists which left their fingers free.

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Chariots!

• There were both 2-horse chariot and 4-horse
  chariot races, with separate races for chariots
  drawn by foals. Another race was between carts
  drawn by a team of 2 mules.

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Riding.

• Only wealthy people could afford to pay for the
  training, equipment, and feed of both the driver
  (or jockey) and the horses. As a result, the
  owner received the olive wreath of victory
  instead of the driver or jockey.