A message on the origin of the Olympic Games. History of the origin and development of the Olympic Games
When and where did the Olympic Games appear? And who is the founder of the Olympic Games, you will learn from this article.
Brief history of the Olympic Games
The Olympic Games originated in Ancient Greece, because the inherent athleticism of the Greeks became the reason for the emergence of sports games. The founder of the Olympic Games is King Oenomaus, who organized sports games for those who wanted to marry his daughter Hippodamia. According to legend, he was predicted that the cause of death would be his son-in-law. Therefore, young people who won certain competitions died. Only the cunning Pelops overtook Oenomaus in chariots. So much so that the king broke his neck and died. The prediction came true, and Pelops, having become king, established the organization of the Olympic Games in Olympia every 4 years.
At Olympia, the site of the first Olympic Games, it is believed that the first competition took place in 776 BC. The name of the one who was the first winner of the games in Ancient Greece – Koreb from Elis, who won the race.
Olympic Games in ancient Greece sports
For the first 13 games, the only sport in which the participants competed was running. Afterwards there was the pentathlon. It included running, javelin throwing, long jump, discus throwing, and wrestling. A little later they added a chariot race and a fist fight.
The modern program of the Olympic Games includes 7 winter and 28 summer sports, that is, 15 and 41 disciplines, respectively. It all depends on the season.
Once the Romans annexed Greece to Rome, the number of nationalities that could take part in the games increased. Gladiator fights were added to the competition program. But in 394 AD, Emperor Theodosius I, a fan of Christianity, canceled the Olympic Games, considering them entertainment for pagans.
The Olympic Games have sunk into oblivion for 15 centuries. The first to take a step towards reviving forgotten competitions was the Benedictine monk Bernard de Montfaucon. He was interested in the history and culture of Ancient Greece and insisted that excavations should be carried out in the place where the famous Olympia had once been.
In 1766, Richard Chandler found the ruins of unknown ancient structures near Mount Kronos. It was part of the temple wall. In 1824, Lord Stanhof, an archaeologist, began excavations on the banks of the Alpheus. In 1828, the baton of excavations at Olympia was picked up by the French, and in 1875 by the Germans.
Pierre de Coubertin, a French statesman, insisted that the Olympic Games must be resumed. And in 1896, the first revived Olympic Games were held in Athens, which are still popular today.
We hope that from this article you learned where and when the Olympic Games originated.
OLYMPIC GAMES(Summer Olympic Games, Olympics), the largest international complex sports competitions of our time. The principles, rules and regulations of the Olympic Games are defined Olympic Charter. At the suggestion of P. de Coubertin the decision to organize the Olympic Games in the image of the ancient ones and to create International Olympic Committee(IOC) was adopted by the International Sports Congress in Paris in 1894. The Olympic Games are held in the first year of the Olympiad. The Olympic Games have been counted since 1896, when the first Olympic Games took place. The Olympiad also receives its number in cases where the games are not held (for example, the VI Olympiad in 1916, the XII in 1940, the XIII in 1944). Besides olympic sports, the organizing committee of the Olympic Games (the NOC of the country where the next Olympic Games will be held is created) has the right to choose to include in the program exhibition competitions in 1-2 sports not recognized by the IOC. The duration of the Olympic Games since 1932 has not been more than 15 days. The Olympic Games in Paris (1900) and St. Louis (1904) were timed to coincide with World Exhibitions .
The Olympic movement has its own symbol, emblem and flag, approved by the IOC in 1914 at the suggestion of Coubertin in 1913. The Olympic symbol is 5 intertwined rings of blue, black, red (top row), yellow and green (bottom row) colors, which symbolize the 5 combined in Olympic movement of parts of the world (respectively - Europe, Africa, America, Asia, Australia). The flag is a white cloth with the Olympic rings; it has been flown at all Olympic Games since 1920. Also in 1913, the motto was approved - Citius, Altius, Fortius (faster, higher, stronger), proposed by A. Dido, a friend and ally of Coubertin, and which became part of the Olympic emblem. The Olympic symbol and motto have formed the official Olympic emblem (since 1920). The high prestige of the competition is evidenced by the list of statesmen and crowned heads who opened them: Athens, 1896 - George I (King of Greece); Paris, 1900 – there was no opening ceremony; St. Louis, 1904 – David Francis (president of the World's Fair); London, 1908 – Edward VII (King of Great Britain and Ireland); Stockholm, 1912 – Gustav V (King of Sweden); Antwerp, 1920 – Albert I (King of Belgium); Paris, 1924 – Gaston Doumergue (President of France); Amsterdam, 1928 – Heinrich of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands); Los Angeles, 1932 – Charles Curtis (US Vice President); Berlin, 1936 – Adolf Hitler (Reich Chancellor of Germany); London, 1948 – George VI (King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); Helsinki, 1952 – Juho Kusti Paasikivi (President of Finland); Melbourne, 1956 (equestrian competitions held in Stockholm) - Philip Mountbatten (Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh - Prince Consort of Great Britain) and Gustav VI Adolf (King of Sweden); Rome, 1960 – Giovanni Gronchi (President of Italy); Tokyo, 1964 – Hirohito (Emperor of Japan); Mexico City, 1968 – Gustavo Diaz Ordaz (President of Mexico); Munich, 1972 – Gustav Heinemann (Federal President of Germany); Montreal, 1976 – Elizabeth II (Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); Moscow, 1980 – Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev (Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR); Los Angeles, 1984 – Ronald Reagan (US President); Seoul, 1988 – Ro Dae Woo (President of the Republic of Korea); Barcelona, 1992 – Juan Carlos I (King of Spain); Atlanta, 1996 – William (Bill) Jefferson Clinton (US President); Sydney, 2000 – William Patrick Dean (Governor General of Australia); Athens, 2004 – Konstantinos Stephanopoulos (President of Greece); Beijing, 2008 – Hu Jintao (General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee); London, 2012 – Elizabeth II (Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); Rio de Janeiro, 2016 – Michel Temer (Vice President of Brazil). The only woman to open the Olympic Games is Queen Elizabeth II; As of January 1, 2020, she is the only statesman in the entire history of the Olympic Games who opened them twice (Melbourne, 1956; London, 2012).
Traditional Olympic rituals: 1) lighting of the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony (first lit from the sun's rays in Olympia in 1936 and delivered by a relay of torchbearers to Berlin - the organizer of the Olympic Games); 2) Taking the Olympic oaths. The Olympic oath of athletes (the text was written in 1913 by Coubertin, it was first pronounced in Antwerp in 1920 by the Belgian fencer V. Boin): “On behalf of all athletes, I promise that we will participate in these Games, respecting and observing the rules by which they are held, in a true sporting spirit, for the glory of sport and for the honor of their teams.” Olympic Oath of Judges (included in the opening ceremony at the proposal of the USSR Olympic Committee and carried out since the Olympic Games in Mexico City, 1968): “On behalf of all judges and officials, I promise that we will perform our duties at these Olympic Games with complete impartiality, respecting and observing the rules by which they are conducted, in a true sporting spirit.” At the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Olympic Coaches Oath was made for the first time: “On behalf of all coaches and others around the athletes, I pledge that we will conduct ourselves in a manner that promotes sportsmanship and fair play, in accordance with the fundamental principles of the Olympic Movement " 3) Presentation of medals to the winners and prize-winners of the competition. For 1st place the athlete is awarded a gold medal, for 2nd place - a silver medal, for 3rd place– bronze. In the case where two athletes (teams) share 1st–2nd places, both are awarded a gold medal; if participants share 2nd–3rd or 2nd–4th places, everyone is awarded silver medals, but bronze ones are not awarded. In boxing competitions, bronze medals are awarded to two athletes who lose in the semi-finals. In 1928, the IOC approved the image on the front side of the medal of the ancient Greek goddess Nike with a laurel wreath in her hand, on the reverse side - the sport, the emblem of the Games and other symbols; 4) raising the state flag and singing the national anthem in honor of the winners. According to the charter, the Olympic Games are competitions between individual athletes and not between national teams. However, the so-called unofficial team standings - determining the place occupied by teams by the number of points received (points are awarded for the first 6 places according to the system: 1st place - 7 points, 2nd - 5 points, 3rd - 4 points, 4th - 3 points, 5th – 2 points, 6th – 1 point). Traditionally, a table of medal standings is maintained by country with priority given to medals of the highest value. The athlete (or team) who wins a gold medal at the Olympic Games or Olympic Winter Games is awarded the title of Olympic champion. This title is not used with the prefix ex, such as ex-world champion. The largest number of medals in the entire history of the Summer Olympic Games (as of January 1, 2020) were won by athletes from national teams: USA (27 participations; 1022 gold, 794 silver, 704 bronze); Russia; Germany; Great Britain (28; 263, 295, 289); China (10; 227, 164, 152); France (28; 212, 241, 260).
The Olympic movement (as of January 1, 2016) involves 206 countries (including geographical areas), whose national Olympic committees are recognized by the IOC. In the period 1896–2016, 31 Olympic Games were held (three of them did not take place due to world wars); 4 were conducted in the USA; 3 – in Great Britain; 1 each in Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Canada, USSR, Republic of Korea, Spain, China, Brazil. According to the Olympic Charter, the honor of hosting the Olympic Games is given to the city, not the country (or territory). The decision to elect an Olympic city (the capital of the Olympic Games) is made by the IOC no later than 6 years before the start of these Games at the IOC session. The application of a candidate city must be approved by the NOC of that country. The city that has put forward its candidacy is obliged to provide the IOC with written guarantees confirmed by the government and make a certain financial contribution (refundable to non-elected cities). Since 1932, the host city of the Olympic Games has been building olympic village– a complex of residential premises for game participants. Among its various obligations, the Olympic city submits for approval to the IOC the program for the Olympic Games, and, since 1968, the national cultural program. The tradition of combining physical and artistic culture dates back to the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece, where sports competitions were accompanied by competitions in various forms of art. The forerunners of the modern cultural program were art competitions (1906–52) and fine arts exhibitions (1956–64). At the Olympic Games in 1968–72, the cultural program was international in nature; since 1976, according to the Olympic Charter, it has been national and covers all types of art, literature, photography, sports philately, etc. More often than other cities in the world, London was chosen as the capital of the Summer Olympic Games (3 times), Athens, Paris, Los Angeles (2 times each).
In 1980, the capital of the Games of the XXII Olympiad was Moscow; elected during the 75th IOC session on October 23, 1974 in Vienna. The main stadium of the Moscow Olympics was the Central Stadium. V.I. Lenin (approx. 100 thousand seats, modern name “Luzhniki”), where the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, athletics competitions, and the final match of the football tournament took place; a number of competitions were held in the Leningradsky Prospekt area of Moscow - at the Dynamo and Young Pioneers stadiums and at the CSKA sports complex. The following were built especially for the Olympic Games: the Olympic sports complex on Mira Avenue, which includes a multi-purpose indoor stadium (about 35 thousand seats; 22 disciplines of the Olympic program) and a swimming pool; cycle track "Krylatskoye" (with two stands for 3 thousand seats), near which there is a circular bicycle track and an archery field (here, in 1972–73, the rowing canal "Krylatskoye" was built for the European Rowing Championship; stands - approx. . 2.5 thousand places); equestrian complex “Bitsa” (tribune for 5 thousand seats); sports palaces "Izmailovo" (temporary collapsible stand - up to 4 thousand seats; weightlifting competitions) and "Sokolniki" (approx. 7 thousand seats; handball tournament games); shooting range "Dynamo" (about 3 thousand places) in the town of Mytishchi near Moscow; Olimpic village. Over 5 thousand athletes from 80 countries competed for 203 sets of medals in 21 sports. Athletes of the USSR national team won the largest number of medals in the history of the Olympic Games - 195 (including 80 gold, 69 silver and 46 bronze). Some competitions authorized by the IOC were held in other cities. Group football tournaments and quarter-final matches took place in Kyiv, Leningrad and Minsk; The sailing regatta took place in Tallinn. (Similar exceptions were allowed before. For example, in 1956, due to quarantine and a ban on the import of horses into Australia, equestrian competitions were held even in another country - in Sweden, in Stockholm.) For political reasons, the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow were boycotted by a number of countries, those who refused to participate. Four years later, the NOC of the USSR and a number of other socialist countries boycotted the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In 1906, the Extraordinary Olympic Games were held in Athens (22.4–2.5) with the participation of 903 athletes from 20 countries. These competitions have not received official recognition from the IOC.
To uphold the Olympic ideals and noble principles of competition at the Olympic Games and Olympic Winter Games, in 1968 the IOC and international sports federations established a doping control procedure, which is carried out by special anti-doping commissions. Since 1976, Olympic medalists have undergone special doping tests; if the athlete is convicted of taking doping he is disqualified and loses his awards. To combat doping, on November 10, 1999, with the support of the IOC, it was established World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA). In recent years, without paying attention to the statute of limitations, WADA laboratories have been rechecking athletes' tests taken during previous Olympic Games (Beijing, 2008; London, 2012), which often leads to revision of individual results, disqualification of prize-winners and changes in the results in the unofficial team medal table. standings (see table in the article World Anti-Doping Agency). Before the start of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (2016), on the initiative of WADA, for various reasons, many Russian athletes were suspended from participation in competitions, including all track and field athletes (with the exception of long jumper D. I. Klishina) and weightlifters , most swimmers and rowers, tennis player M. Yu. Sharapova. As a result, the composition of the Russian national team was reduced by almost 50%.
In 6 types of the Olympic program (cycling, athletics, swimming, shooting, archery, weightlifting) Olympic records are registered regardless of what stage of the competition (preliminary, qualifying or final) they were set. If the result exceeds the world record, then it is considered both a world and an Olympic record.
Since 1968, the organizers of the Olympic Games have used the Olympic mascot for propaganda and commercial purposes.
To reward particularly distinguished athletes, figures of the Olympic movement and major government figures in the mid-1970s. The Olympic Order was established (it had three degrees) - Gold, Silver and Bronze (now only the first two). The first recipient of the Olympic Golden Order was ex-IOC President E. Brundage. Olympic orders are not awarded to current IOC members.
For the dates and main results of the Summer Olympic Games, see Table 1. For athletes who won the largest number of Olympic awards at the Olympic Games, see Table 2. For athletes who took part in 6 or more Olympics, see Table 3.
Table 1. Main results of the Summer Olympic Games (Athens, 1896 – Rio de Janeiro, 2016).
| Official name. Capital, dates. Main stadium. Games mascots (since 1968) | Number of countries; athletes (including women); sets of medals played in sports | The most successful athletes (medals gold, silver, bronze) | Countries that have won the most medals (gold, silver, bronze) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Games of the First Olympiad. Athens, 6.4–15.4. 1896. “Panathinaikos” (80 thousand seats) | 14; 241 (0); 43 at 9 | K. Schumann (4, 0, 0), H. Weingärtner (3, 2, 1) and A. Flatow (3, 1, 0; all Germany); R. Garrett (USA; 2, 2, 0); F. Hofmann (Germany; 2, 1, 1) | USA (11, 7, 2); Greece (10, 17, 19); Germany (6, 5, 2); France (5, 4, 2); UK (2, 3, 2) |
| Games of the II Olympiad. Paris, 14.5–28.10. 1900. Velodrome in the Bois de Vincennes, the Racing Club, etc. | 24; 997 (22); 95 at 20 | A. Krenzlein (USA; 4, 0, 0); K. Steeli (Switzerland; 3, 0, 1); R. Urey (3, 0, 0), I. Baxter (2, 3, 0) and W. Tewksbury (2, 2, 1; all USA) | France (26, 41, 34); USA (19, 14, 14); UK (15, 6, 9); Switzerland (6, 2, 1); Belgium (5, 5, 5) |
| Games of the III Olympiad. St. Louis, 1.7–23.11. 1904. “Francis Field” (19 thousand seats) | 12; 651(6); 94 at 16 | A. Heida (5, 1, 0), M. Hurley (4, 0, 1), J. Acer (3, 2, 1), C. Daniels (3, 1, 1) and J. Lightbody (3, 1, 0; all USA); R. Fonst (Cuba; 3, 0, 0) | USA (78, 82, 79); Germany (4, 4, 5); Cuba (4, 2, 3); Canada (4, 1, 1); Hungary (2, 1, 1) |
| Games of the IV Olympiad. London, 27.4–31.10. 1908. “White City” (“White City”; over 70 thousand seats) | 22; 2008 (37); 110 at 22 | G. Taylor (Great Britain; 3, 0, 0); M. Sheppard (USA; 3, 0, 0) | Great Britain (56, 51, 39); USA (23, 12, 12); Sweden (8, 6, 11); France (5, 5, 9); Germany (3, 5, 5) |
| Games of the V Olympiad. Stockholm, 5.5–22.7.1912. "Olympic Stadium" (14.4 thousand seats) | 28; 2408 (48); 102 at 14 | V. Karlberg (Sweden; 3, 2, 0); J. Kolehmainen (Finland; 3, 1, 0); A. Lane (USA; 3, 0, 0); E. Karlberg (2, 2, 0) and J. H. von Holst (2, 1, 1; both Sweden) | USA (25, 19, 19); Sweden (24, 24, 17); UK (10, 15, 16); Finland (9, 8, 9); France (7, 4, 3) |
| Games of the VII Olympiad. Antwerp, 20.4–12.9. 1920. Olympic Stadium (approx. 13 thousand seats) | 29; 2626 (65); 156 in 22 | W. Lee (USA; 5, 1, 1); N. Nadi (Italy; 5, 0, 0); L. Spooner (USA; 4, 1, 2); X. van Innis (Belgium; 4, 2, 0); K. Osborne (USA; 4, 1, 1) | USA (41, 27, 27); Sweden (19, 20, 25); UK (15, 15, 13); Finland (15, 10, 9); Belgium (14, 11, 11) |
| Games of the VIII Olympiad. Paris, 4.5–27.7. 1924. "Olympique de Colombes" (60 thousand seats) | 44; 3088 (135); 126 at 17 | P. Nurmi (5, 0, 0) and V. Ritola (4, 2, 0; both Finland); R. Ducret (France; 3, 2, 0); J. Weissmuller (USA; 3, 0, 1) | USA (45, 27, 27); Finland (14, 13, 10); France (13, 15, 10); UK (9, 13, 12); Italy (8, 3, 5) |
| Games of the IX Olympiad. Amsterdam, 17.5–12.8. 1928. “Olympic Stadium” (over 31 thousand seats) | 46; 2883 (277); 109 at 14 | J. Meese (3, 1, 0) and X. Hengi (2, 1, 1; both Switzerland); L. Gaudin (France; 2, 1, 0); E. Mack (Switzerland; 2, 0, 1) | USA (22, 18, 16); Germany (10, 7, 14); Finland (8, 8, 9); Sweden (7, 6, 12); Italy (7, 5, 7) |
| Games of the X Olympiad. Los Angeles, 7/30–8/14. 1932. “Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum” (“Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum”; over 93 thousand seats) | 37; 1332 (126); 117 at 14 | E. Madison (USA; 3, 0, 0); R. Neri (3, 0, 0) and G. Gaudini (0, 3, 1; both Italy); H. Savolainen (Finland; 0, 1, 3) | USA (41, 32, 30); Italy (12, 12, 12); France (10, 5, 4); Sweden (9, 5, 9); Japan (7, 7, 4) |
| Games of the XI Olympiad. Berlin, 1.8–16.8. 1936. “Olympiastadion” (“Olympiastadion”; 100 thousand seats) | 49; 3963 (331); 129 at 19 | J. Owens (USA; 4, 0, 0); K. Frey (3, 1, 2) and A. Shvartsman (3, 0, 2; both Germany); H. Mastenbroek (Netherlands; 3, 1, 0); R. Charpentier (France; 3, 0, 0); E. Mack (Switzerland; 0, 4, 1) | Germany (33, 26, 30); USA (24, 20, 12); Hungary (10, 1, 5); Italy (8, 9, 5); Finland (7, 6, 6); France (7, 6, 6) |
| Games of the XIV Olympiad. London, 29.7–14.8. 1948. “Wembley” (“Wembley”; over 120 thousand seats) | 59; 4104 (390); 136 at 17 | F. Blankers-Kun (Netherlands; 4, 0, 0); V. Huhtanen (3, 1, 1) and P. Aaltonen (3, 0, 1; both Finland) | USA (38, 27, 19); Sweden (16, 11, 17); France (10, 6, 13); Hungary (10, 5, 12); Italy (8, 11, 8) |
| Games of the XV Olympiad. Helsinki, 19.7–3.8. 1952. Olympic Stadium (40 thousand seats) | 69; 4955 (519); 149 at 17 | V. I. Chukarin (USSR; 4, 2, 0); E. Zatopek (Czechoslovakia; 3, 0, 0); M.K. Gorokhovskaya (2, 5, 0) and N.A. Bocharova (2, 2, 0; both USSR); E. Mangiarotti (Italy; 2, 2, 0) | USA (40, 19, 17); USSR (22, 30, 19); Hungary (16, 10, 16); Sweden (12, 13, 10); Italy (8, 9, 4) |
| Games of the XVI Olympiad. Melbourne, 22.11–8.12. 1956. "Melbourne Cricket Ground" (100 thousand seats) | 72; 3314 (376); 145 at 17 | A. Keleti (Hungary; 4, 2, 0); L. S. Latynina (4, 1, 1), V. I. Chukarin (3, 1, 1) and V. I. Muratov (3, 1, 0; all USSR) | USSR (37, 29, 32); USA (32, 25, 17); Australia (13, 8, 14); Hungary (9, 10, 7); Italy (8, 8, 9) |
| Games of the XVII Olympiad. Rome, 25.8–11.9.1960. Olympic Stadium (approx. 73 thousand seats) | 83; 5338 (611); 150 at 17 | B. A. Shakhlin (4.2, 1) and L. S. Latynina (3, 2, 1; both USSR); T. Ono (Japan; 3, 1, 2); K. von Salza (USA; 3, 1, 0); V. Rudolph (USA; 3, 0, 0) | USSR (43, 29, 31); USA (34, 21, 16); Italy (13, 10, 13); OGK* (12, 19, 11); Australia (8, 8, 6) |
| Games of the XVIII Olympiad. Tokyo, 10.10–24.10. 1964. National Olympic Stadium (48 thousand seats) | 93; 5151 (678); 163 at 19 | D. Shollender (USA; 4, 0, 0); V. Caslavska (Czechoslovakia; 3, 1, 0); Yu. Endo (Japan; 3, 1, 0); S. Stouder (3, 1, 0) and S. Clark (3, 0, 0; both USA); L. S. Latynina (USSR; 2, 2, 2) | USA (36, 26, 28); USSR (30, 31, 35); Japan (16, 5, 8); OGK* (10, 22, 18); Italy (10, 10, 7) |
| Games of the XIX Olympiad. Mexico City, 10/12–10/27. 1968. “Olímpico Universitario” (“Olímpico Universitario” over 63 thousand places). Red Jaguar | 112; 5516 (781); 172 at 18 | V. Caslavska (Czechoslovakia; 4, 2, 0); A. Nakayama (Japan; 4, 1, 1); C. Hickox (USA; 3, 1.0); S. Kato (Japan; 3, 0, 1); D. Meyer (USA; 3, 0, 0); M. Ya. Voronin (USSR; 2, 4, 1) | USA (45, 28, 34); USSR (29, 32, 30); Japan (11, 7, 7); Hungary (10, 10, 12); GDR (9, 9, 7) |
| Games of the XX Olympiad. Munich, 26.8–10.9. 1972. "Olympiastadion" (over 69 thousand places). Waldi the Dachshund | 121; 7134 (1059); 195 to 21 | M. Spitz (USA; 7, 0, 0); S. Kato (Japan; 3, 2, 0); S. Gould (Austria; 3, 1, 1); O. V. Korbut (USSR; 3, 1, 0); M. Belout and S. Neilson (both USA; 3, 0, 0 each); K. Janz (GDR; 2, 2, 1) | USSR (50, 27, 22); USA (33, 31, 30); GDR (20, 23, 23); Germany (13, 11, 16); Japan (13, 8, 8) |
| Games of the XXI Olympiad. Montreal, 17.7–1.8. 1976. Olympic Stadium (approx. 66 thousand seats). Beaver Amik | 92; 6048 (1260); 198 to 21 | N. E. Andrianov (USSR; 4, 2, 1); K. Ender (GDR; 4, 1, 0); J. Neiber (USA; 4, 1, 0); N. Comenech (Romania; 3, 1, 1); N. V. Kim (USSR; 3, 1, 0); M. Tsukahara (Japan; 2, 1,2) | USSR (49, 41, 35); GDR (40, 25, 25); USA (34; 35, 25); Germany (10, 12, 17); Japan (9, 6, 10) |
| Games of the XXII Olympiad. Moscow, 19.7–3.8. 1980. Stadium named after. Lenin (modern name: “Luzhniki”; approx. 100 thousand seats). Little Bear Misha | 80; 5179 (1115); 203 to 21 | A. N. Dityatin (USSR; 3, 4, 1); K. Metchuk (3, 1, 0), B. Krause and R. Reinisch (3, 0, 0 each; all GDR); V.V. Parfenovich and V.V. Salnikov (both USSR; 3,0,0 each); N. Comeneci (Romania; 2, 2, 0) | USSR (80, 69, 46); GDR (47, 37, 42); Bulgaria (8, 16, 17); Cuba (8, 7, 5); Italy (8, 3, 4) |
| Games of the XXIII Olympiad. Los Angeles, 7/28–8/12. 1984. “Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum” (over 93 thousand seats). Sam the Eaglet | 140; 6829 (1566); 221 to 23 | E. Szabo (Romania; 4, 1, 0); K. Lewis (USA; 4, 0, 0); Li Ning (China; 3, 2, 1); M. Heath and N. Hogshead (both USA; 3 each, 1.0) | USA (83, 60, 30); Romania (20, 16, 17); Germany (17, 19, 23); China (15, 8, 9); Italy (14, 6, 12) |
| Games of the XXIV Olympiad. Seoul, 17.9–2.10.1988. Olympic Stadium (approx. 70 thousand seats). Little Tiger Hodori | 159; 8391 (2194); 237 at 23 | K. Otto (GDR; 6, 0, 0); M. Biondi (USA; 5, 1, 1); V. N. Artyomov (USSR; 4, 1, 0); D. Silivas (Romania; 3, 2, 1); F. Griffith-Joyner (USA; 3, 1, 0); D. V. Bilozerchev (USSR; 3, 0, 1); J. Evans (USA; 3, 0, 0) | USSR (55, 31, 46); GDR (37, 35, 30); USA (36, 31, 27); Republic of Korea (12, 10, 11); Germany (11, 14, 15) |
| Games of the XXV Olympiad. Barcelona, 25.7–9.8.1992. "Olympico de Montjuic" (“Olímpico de Montjuїc”; approx. 56 thousand seats). Kobe the dog | 169; 9356 (2704); 257 to 32 | V. V. Shcherbo (OK**; 6, 0, 0); K. Egerszegi (Hungary; 3, 0, 0); E. V. Sadovy (OK**; 3, 0, 0); N. Hayslett (USA; 3, 0, 0); A. V. Popov (OK**; 2, 2, 0) | OK** (45, 38, 29); USA (37, 34, 37); Germany (33, 21, 28); China (16, 22, 16); Cuba (14, 6, 11) |
| Games of the XXVI Olympiad. Atlanta, 19.7–4.8. 1996. “Centennial Olympic” (“Centennial Olympic”; 85 thousand seats). Computer character Izzy | 197; 10320 (3523); 271 in 26 | E. Van Dyken (USA; 4, 0, 0); M. Smith (Ireland; 3, 0, 1); A. Yu. Nemov (2, 1, 3) and A. V. Popov (2, 2, 0; both Russia); G. Hall (USA; 2, 2, 0) | USA (44, 32, 25); Russia (26, 21, 16); Germany (20, 18, 27); China (16, 22, 12); France (15, 7, 15) |
| Games of the XXVII Olympiad. Sydney, 15.9–1.10. 2000. "Ostreilia" (83.5 thousand seats). Ollie the kookaburra, Sid the platypus, Millie the echidna | 199; 10651 (4069); 300 in 28 | L. van Moorsel (Netherlands; 3, 1, 0); I. Thorpe (Australia; 3, 2, 0); I. de Bruin (Netherlands; 3, 1, 0); M. Jones (3, 0, 1) and L. Kraiselburg (3, 0, 0; both USA); A. Yu. Nemov (Russia; 2, 1, 3) | USA (37, 24, 33); Russia (32, 28, 29); China (28, 16, 14); Australia (16, 25, 17); Germany (13, 17, 26) |
| Games of the XXVIII Olympiad. Athens, 13.8–29.8. 2004. Olympic Stadium (approx. 70 thousand seats). Antique dolls Phoebus and Athena | 201; 10625 (4329); 301 in 28 | M. Phelps (USA; 6, 0, 2); P. Thomas (Australia; 3, 1.0); C. Ponor (Romania; 3, 0, 0); A. Piersol (USA; 3, 0, 0); W. Campbell (Jamaica; 2, 0, 1); I. Thorpe (Australia; 2, 1, 1); I. de Bruin (Netherlands; 1,1,2) | USA (35, 40, 26); China (32; 17, 14); Russia (28, 26, 37); Australia (17, 16, 17); Japan (16, 9, 12) |
| Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Beijing, 8.8–24.8. 2008. National Stadium (91 thousand seats). Children of Fortune: Bei-Bei, Jing-Jing, Huan-Huan, Ying-Ying and Ni-Ni | 204; 10942 (4637); 302 in 28 | M. Phelps (USA; 8, 0, 0); W. Bolt (Jamaica; 3, 0, 0); K. Hoy (Great Britain; 3, 0, 0); Tsou Kai (China; 3, 0, 0); S. Rice (Australia; 3, 0, 0) | China (51, 21, 28); USA (36, 38, 36); Russia (22, 18, 26); UK (19, 13, 15); Germany (16, 10, 15) |
| Games of the XXX Olympiad. London, 27.7–12.8. 2012. Olympic Stadium (80 thousand seats). Two drops of steel - Wenlock and Mandeville | 204; 10768 (4776); 302 in 26 | M. Phelps (4, 2, 0); M. Franklin (4, 0, 1), E. Schmitt (3, 1, 1) and D. Volmer (3, 0, 0; all USA); W. Bolt (Jamaica; 3, 0, 0) | USA (46, 29, 29); China (38, 27, 23); UK (29, 17, 19); Russia (24, 26, 32); Republic of Korea (13, 8, 7) |
| Games of the XXXI Olympiad. Rio de Janeiro, 5.8.-21.8.2016. "Maracana" (78.8 thousand seats). Flora and fauna of Brazil - Vinicius and Tom | 207; 11303 (approx. 4700); 306 in 28 | M. Phelps (5,1,0); S. Biles (4,1,0); K. Ledecky (4,1,0; all USA); W. Bolt (Jamaica), J. Kenny (Great Britain), D. Kozak (Hungary) (all 3,0,0). | USA (48,37,38); Great Britain (27, 23.17); China (26, 18, 26); Russia (19,18,19); Germany (17,10,15). |
* United German team.
** United team of the countries of the former USSR.
Table 2. Athletes with the most victories at the Olympic Games (Athens, 1896 – Rio de Janeiro, 2016).
| Athlete, a country | Kind of sport, years of participation | Medals | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gold | silver | bronze | ||
| M. Phelps, USA | Swimming, 2004–2016 | 23 | 3 | 2 |
| L. S. Latynina, USSR | Gymnastics, 1956–1964 | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| P. Nurmi, Finland | Athletics, 1920–1928 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| M. Spitz, USA | Swimming, 1968–1972 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| K. Lewis, USA | Athletics, 1984–1996 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| W. Bolt, Jamaica | Athletics, 2004–2016 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Fischer, Germany | Kayaking and canoeing, 1980–2004 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| S. Kato, Japan | Gymnastics, 1968–1976 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| J. Thompson, USA | Swimming, 1992–2004 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| M. Biondi, USA | Swimming, 1984–1992 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| R. Yuri, USA | Athletics, 1900–1908 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| N. E. Andrianov, USSR | Gymnastics, 1972–1980 | 7 | 5 | 3 |
| B. A. Shakhlin, USSR | Gymnastics, 1956–1964 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| V. Caslavska, Czechoslovakia | Gymnastics, 1960–1968 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| V. I. Chukarin, USSR | Gymnastics, 1952–1956 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| A. Gerevich, Hungary | Fencing, 1932–1960 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| E. Mangiarotti, Italy | Fencing, 1936–1960 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| I. Vert, Germany | Horseback Riding, 1992–2016 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| R. Lochte, USA | Swimming, 2004–2016 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| E. Felix, USA | Athletics, 2004–2016 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| H. van Innis, Belgium | Archery, 1900–1920 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| A. Nakayama, Japan | Gymnastics, 1968–1972 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| V. Vezzali, Italy | Fencing, 1996–2012 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| G. Fredriksson, Sweden | Kayaking and canoeing, 1948–1960 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| K. Hoy, Great Britain | Cycling, 2000–2012 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| V. V. Shcherbo, Belarus | Gymnastics, 1992–1996 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| R. Klimke, Germany | Horseback Riding, 1964–1988 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| P. Kovacs, Hungary | Fencing, 1936–1960 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| E. Van Dyken, USA | Swimming, 1996–2000 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| R. Karpathy, Hungary | Fencing, 1948–1960 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| N. Nadi, Italy | Fencing, 1912–1920 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Otto, GDR | Swimming, 1988 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Ono, Japan | Gymnastics, 1952–1964 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| K. Osburn, USA | Shooting sport, 1912–1924 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| A. Keleti, Hungary | Gymnastics, 1952–1956 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| G. Hall Jr. USA | Swimming, 1996–2004 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| N. Comaneci, Romania | Gymnastics, 1976–1980 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| I. Thorpe, Australia | Swimming, 2000–2004 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| V. Ritola, Finland | Athletics, 1924–1928 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| P. G. Astakhova, USSR | Gymnastics, 1956–1964 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| E. Lipa, Romania | Rowing, 1984–2000 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| A. Piersol, USA | Swimming, 2000–2008 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Yu Endo, Japan | Gymnastics, 1960–1968 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| M. Tsukahara, Japan | 5 | 1 | 3 | |
| N. Adrian, USA | Swimming, 2008–2016 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| B. Wiggins, UK | Cycling, 2000–2016 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| H. G. Winkler, Germany | Horseback Riding, 1956–1976 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| T. Jaeger, USA | Swimming, 1984–1992 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| W. Lee, USA | Shooting sport, 1920 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| K. Egerszegi, Hungary | Swimming, 1988–1996 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Wu Minxia, China | Diving, 2004–2016 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| N.V. Kim, USSR | Gymnastics, 1976–1980 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| O. Lillo-Olsen, Norway | Shooting sport, 1920–1924 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| A. Heida, USA | Gymnastics, 1904 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| D. Schollander, USA | Swimming, 1964–1968 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| K. Ledecky, USA | Swimming, 2012–2016 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| M. Franklin, USA | Swimming, 2012–2016 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| J. Weissmuller, USA | Swimming, water polo, 1924–1928 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| J. Damian, Romania | Rowing, 2000–2008 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| A. Lane, USA | Shooting sport, 1912–1920 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| S. Redgrave, UK | Rowing, 1984–2000 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Ts. Kai, China | Gymnastics, 2004–2012 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| M. Fischer, USA | Shooting sport, 1920–1924 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Ch. Zholin, China | Diving, 2008–2016 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| N. S. Ishchenko, Russia | Synchronized swimming, 2008–2016 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| S. A. Romashina, Russia | Synchronized swimming, 2008–2016 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| A. S. Davydova, Russia | Synchronized swimming, 2004–2012 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| A. V. Popov, Russia | Swimming, 1992–2000 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| D. Torres, USA | Swimming, 1984–2008 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| D. Fraser, Australia | Swimming, 1956–1964 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| K. Ender, GDR | Swimming, 1972–1976 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| L. I. Turishcheva, USSR | Artistic gymnastics, 1968–1976 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| J. Mie, Switzerland | Gymnastics, 1924–1936 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| O. Olsen, Norway | Shooting sport, 1920–1924 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| I. Patsaykin, Romania | Kayaking and canoeing, 1968–1984 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| A. Yu. Nemov, Russia | Gymnastics, 1996–2000 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| I. de Bruin, Netherlands | Swimming, 2000–2004 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| E. Schmitt, USA | Swimming, 2008–2016 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| J. Lezak, USA | Swimming, 2000–2012 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| R. Matthes, GDR | Swimming, 1968–1976 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| E. Liberg, Norway | Shooting sport, 1908–1924 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| L. Gaudin, France | Fencing, 1920–1928 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Guo Jingjing, China | Diving, 2000–2008 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| J. Delfino, Italy | Fencing, 1952–1964 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| C. d'Oriola, France | Fencing, 1948–1956 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| O. V. Korbut, USSR | Gymnastics, 1972–1976 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| G. Trillini, Italy | Fencing, 1992–2008 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| C. Daniels, USA | Swimming, 1904–1908 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| K. Kitajima, Japan | Swimming, 2004–2012 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| L. Spooner, USA | Shooting sport, 1920 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| L. Trickett, Australia | Swimming, 2004–2012 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| D. Ignat, Romania | Rowing, 1992–2008 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Kim Soo-nyeon The Republic of Korea | Archery, 1988–2000 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| L. van Morsel, Netherlands | Cycling, 2000–2004 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| E. D. Belova, USSR | Fencing, 1968–1976 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| M. Rose, Australia | Swimming, 1956–1960 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| V. A. Sidyak, USSR | Fencing, 1968–1980 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| V. N. Artyomov, USSR | Gymnastics, 1988 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Wang Nan, China | Table tennis, 2000–2008 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Y. A. Klochkova, Ukraine | Swimming, 2000–2004 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| J. H. Kolehmainen, Finland | Athletics, 1912–1920 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| G. Louganis, USA | Diving, 1976–1988 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| V. I. Muratov, USSR | Gymnastics, 1952–1956 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| J. Neuber, USA | Swimming, 1976 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| E. Zatopek, Czechoslovakia | Athletics, 1948–1952 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Ch. Payu de Mortanges, Netherlands | Horseback Riding, 1924–1936 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| E. Sabo, Romania | Gymnastics, 1984 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| I. Ferguson, New Zealand | Kayaking and canoeing, 1984–1988 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| R. Fonst, Cuba | Fencing, 1900–1904 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Fu Mingxia China | Diving, 1992–2000 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| M. Sheppard, USA | Athletics, 1908–1912 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| J. Evans, USA | Swimming, 1988–1992 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| C.B. Ainslie, UK | Sailing, 1996–2012 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| V. Williams, USA | Tennis, 2000–2016 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| E. Ashford, USA | Athletics, 1984–1992 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| D. Kulchar, Hungary | Fencing, 1964–1976 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| K. Boron, Germany | Rowing, 1992–2008 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| K. Wagner-Augustin, Germany | Kayaking and canoeing, 2000–2012 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| J. Zampori, Italy | Gymnastics, 1912–1924 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Li Xiaopeng, China | Gymnastics, 2000–2008 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| J. Olsen, USA | Swimming, 1992–1996 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| S. A. Pozdnyakov, Russia | Fencing, 1992–2004 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| S. Richards-Ross, USA | Athletics, 2004–2012 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| V. Susanu, Romania | Rowing, 2000–2008 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| M. Harley, USA | Cycling, 1904 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| T. Edwards, USA | Basketball, 1984–2000 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| L. Berbaum, Germany | Horseback Riding, 1988–2000 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| F. Blankers-Kun, Netherlands | Athletics, 1948 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Wöckel, GDR | Athletics, 1976–1980 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Viren, Finland | Athletics, 1972–1976 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Dargny, Hungary | Swimming, 1988–1992 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Deng Yaping, China | Table tennis, 1992–1996 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Johnson, USA | Athletics, 1992–2000 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| H. Dillard, USA | Athletics, 1948–1952 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| A. N. Ermakova, Russia | Synchronized swimming, 2004–2008 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Cuthbert, Australia | Athletics, 1956–1964 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| R. Korzhenevsky, Poland | Athletics, 1996–2004 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| A. Krenzlein, USA | Athletics, 1900 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Krayzelburg, USA | Swimming, 2000–2004 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| V. A. Krovopuskov, USSR | Fencing, 1976–1980 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Leslie, USA | Basketball, 1996–2008 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Taurasi, USA | Basketball, 2004–2016 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Bird, USA | Basketball, 2004–2016 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Ityo, Japan | Freestyle wrestling, 2004–2016 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| P. McCormick, USA | Diving, 1952–1956 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| E. Orter, USA | Athletics, 1956–1968 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Owens, USA | Athletics, 1936 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Pavesi, Italy | Fencing, 1952–1960 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Pinsent, UK | Rowing, 1992–2004 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| P. Radmilovich,Great Britain | Water polo, swimming, 1908–1920 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| V.V. Salnikov, USSR | Swimming, 1980–1988 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| H. St. Cyr, Sweden | Horseback Riding, 1952–1956 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Williams, USA | Tennis, 2000–2012 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| N. Uphoff, Germany | Horseback Riding, 1988–1992 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Fuchs, Hungary | Fencing, 1908–1912 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Zhang Yining, China | Table tennis, 2004–2008 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Schumann, Germany | Artistic gymnastics, wrestling, 1896 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| P. Elvström, Denmark | Sailing, 1948–1960 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
3 Olympic gold medals were won at the Olympic Games in approx. 200 athletes (as of January 1, 2020), including representatives of Russia (including the USSR): A. V. Azaryan, D. V. Bilozerchev, S. L. Boginskaya, O. A. Brusnikina, O. A. Bryzgina , G. E. Gorokhova , A. N. Dityatin , V. V. Ekimov , V. F. Zhdanovich , A. I. Zabelina , V. N. Ivanov, T. V. Kazankina, A. A. Karelin, M. A. Kiseleva, A. I. Lavrov, V. G. Mankin, A. V. Medved, V. I. Morozov, V. A. Nazlymov, V. V. Parfenovich, T. N. Press, V. D. Saneev, E. V. Sadovyi, B. Kh. Saitiev, L. I. Khvedosyuk-Pinaeva, S. A. Chukhrai .
Table 3. Athletes who took part in 6 or more Olympics (as of January 1, 2020).
| Athlete (year of birth), a country | Quantity | Kind of sport | Years of participation | Medals | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| gold | silver | bronze | ||||
| I. Millar (b. 1947), Canada | 10 | Horseback Riding | 1972–1976 1984–2012 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| H. Raudaschl, (b. 1942) Austria | 9 | Sailing | 1964–1996 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| A. Kuzmin (b. 1947), USSR (3) Latvia (6) | 9 | Shooting sport | 1976–1980 1988–2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| P. D'Inzeo (1923–2014), Italy | 8 | Horseback Riding | 1948–1976 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| R. D'Inzeo (1925–2013), Italy | 8 | Horseback Riding | 1948–1976 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| D. Knowles (b. 1917) , UK (1) Bahamas (7) | 8 | Sailing | 1948–1972, 1988 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| P. Elvström (b. 1928), Denmark | 8 | Sailing | 1948–1960, 1968, 1972, 1984, 1988 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| R. Debevec (b. 1963), Yugoslavia (2) Slovenia (6) | 8 | Shooting sport | 1984–2012 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| J. Idem (1964), Germany (2) Italy (6) | 8 | Kayaking | 1984–2012 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| F. Bosa (b. 1964), Peru | 8 | Shooting sport | 1980–2004, 2016 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| L. Thompson (b. 1959), Canada | 8 | Rowing | 1984–2000 2008–2016 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| N. Salukvadze (b. 1969), USSR (2), Georgia (6) | 8 | Shooting sport | 1988–2016 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| I. Osier (1888–1965), Denmark | 7 | Fencing | 1908–1932, 1948 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| F. Lafortune Jr. (b. 1932), Belgium | 7 | Shooting sport | 1952–1976 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Palm (b. 1946), Sweden | 7 | Fencing | 1964–1988 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. M. Plumb (b. 1940), USA | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1964–1976, 1984–1992 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| R. Scanoker (b. 1934), Sweden | 7 | Shooting sport | 1972–1996 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| S. Hashimoto* (b. 1964), Japan | 7 | Cycling, skating | 1984–1994, 1988–1996 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| M. Ottey (b. 1960), Jamaica (6) Slovenia (1) | 7 | Athletics | 1980–2004, | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| J. Longo (b. 1958), France | 7 | Cycling | 1984–2008 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| E. Hoy (b. 1959), Australia | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1984–2004, 2012 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| J. Persson (b. 1966), Sweden | 7 | Table tennis | 1988–2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Z. Primorac (b. 1969), Yugoslavia (1) Croatia (6) | 7 | Table tennis | 1988–2012 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| J. M. Seve (b. 1969), Belgium | 7 | Table tennis | 1988–2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A. van Grunsven (b. 1968), Netherlands | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1988–2012 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| J. Lansink (b. 1961), Netherlands (4) Belgium (3) | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1988–2012 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Šekarić (b. 1965), Yugoslavia (1) Independent Olympic athletes (1) Yugoslavia (2), Serbia and Montenegro (1), Serbia (2) | 7 | Shooting sport | 1988–2012 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| R. Schumann (b. 1962), East Germany (1) Germany (6) | 7 | Shooting sport | 1988–2012 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| M. Todd (b. 1956), New Zealand | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1984–1992, 2000, 2008–2016 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| L. Berbaum (b. 1963), Germany (1), Germany (6) | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1988–2008, 2016 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| N. Skelton (b. 1957), UK | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1988–1996, 2004–2016 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Wilhelmson-Sylvain, (b. 1967) Sweden | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1992–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. A. G. Bragado (b. 1969), Spain | 7 | Athletics | 1992–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E. Karsten (b. 1972), United Team (1), Belarus (6) | 7 | Rowing | 1992–2016 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| L. Paes (b. 1973), India | 7 | Tennis | 1992–2016 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| J. Pellelo (b. 1970), Italy | 7 | Shooting sport | 1992–2016 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| J. Rodrigues (b. 1971), Portugal | 7 | Sailing | 1992–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Toriola (b. 1974), Nigeria | 7 | Table tennis | 1992–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| O. Chusovitina (b. 1975), United team (1), Uzbekistan (4), Germany (2) | 7 | Gymnastics | 1992–2016 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| M. Konov (1887–1972), Norway | 6 | Sailing | 1908–1920, 1928–1948 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| N. Cohn-Armitage (1907–1972), USA | 6 | Fencing | 1928–1956 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A. Gerevich (1910–1991), Hungary | 6 | Fencing | 1932–1960 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| J. Romery (1927–2007), USA | 6 | Fencing | 1948–1968 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Manoliu (1932–1998), Romania | 6 | Athletics | 1952–1972 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| E. Pawlowski (1932–2005), Poland | 6 | Fencing | 1952–1972 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| W. Macmillan (1929–2000), USA | 6 | Shooting sport | 1952, 1960–1976 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| H. G. Winkler (b. 1926), Germany (3), West Germany (3) | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1956–1976 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| A. Smelczynski (b. 1930), Poland | 6 | Shooting sport | 1956–1976 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| F. Chepot (1932–2016), USA | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1956–1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| B. Hoskins (1931–2013), UK | 6 | Fencing | 1956–1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| J. Elder (b. 1934), Canada | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1956–1960, 1968–1976, 1984 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| H. Fogh (1938–2014), Denmark (4), Canada (2) | 6 | Sailing | 1960–1976, 1984 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| R. Klimke (1936–1999), Germany (2), West Germany (4) | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1960–1968, 1976, 1984–1988 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| K. Hanseo-Boilen (b. 1947), Canada | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1964–1976, 1984, 1992 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Primrose (b. 1942), Canada | 6 | Shooting sport | 1968–1976, 1984–1992 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| I. Ptak (b. 1946), Czechoslovakia | 6 | Rowing | 1968–1980, 1988–1992 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Foster Sr. (b. 1938), Virgin Islands (USA) | 6 | Sailing, bobsled | 1972–1976, 1984–1992, 1988 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Alvarez (b. 1947), Spain | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1972–1976, 1984–1996 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E. Swinkels (b. 1949), Netherlands | 6 | Shooting sport | 1972–1976, 1984–1996 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| H. Simon (b. 1942), Austria | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1972–1976, 1984–1996 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A. Bountouris (b. 1955), Greece | 6 | Sailing | 1976–1996 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| T. Sanderson (b. 1956), UK | 6 | Athletics | 1976–1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Stückelberger (b. 1947), Switzerland | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1972–1976, 1984–1988, 1996–2000 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| N. Matova (b. 1954), Bulgaria | 6 | Shooting sport | 1976–1980, 1988–2000 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| J. Schumann (b. 1954), East Germany (3), Germany (3) | 6 | Sailing | 1976–1980, 1988–2000 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| F. Boccara (b. 1959), France (4) USA (2) | 6 | Kayaking | 1980–2000 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A. Mazzoni (b. 1961), Italy | 6 | Fencing | 1980–2000 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| H. Hia (b. 1955), Peru | 6 | Shooting sport | 1980–2000 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| M. Estiarte (b. 1961), Spain | 6 | Water polo | 1980–2000 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| T. McHugh* (b. 1963), Ireland | 6 | Athletics, bobsleigh | 1988–2000; 1992, 1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Fischer (b. 1962), East Germany (2), Germany (4) | 6 | Kayaking | 1980, 1988–2004 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| S. Babiy (b. 1963), Romania | 6 | Shooting sport | 1984–2004 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| K. Bishel (b. 1959), Australia | 6 | Sailing | 1984–2004 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Wang Yifu (b. 1960), China | 6 | Shooting sport | 1984–2004 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| R. Dover (b. 1956), USA | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1984–2004 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| T. Grael (b. 1960), Brazil | 6 | Sailing | 1984–2004 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| A. Kasumi (b. 1966), Greece | 6 | Shooting sport | 1984–2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E. Lipa (b. 1964), Romania | 6 | Rowing | 1984–2004 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| H. Stenvåg (b. 1953), Norway | 6 | Shooting sport | 1984–2004 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| S. Nattrass (b. 1950), Canada | 6 | Shooting sport | 1976, 1988–1992, 2000–2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Kirklund (b. 1951), Finland | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1980–1996, 2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| I. Di Buo (b. 1956), Italy | 6 | Archery | 1984–1992, 2000–2008 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| H. E. Kurushet (b. 1965), Argentina | 6 | Cycling | 1984–1988, 1996–2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| A. Benelli (b. 1960), Italy | 6 | Shooting sport | 1988–2008 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| F. Diato-Pasetti (b. 1965), Monaco | 6 | Shooting sport | 1988–2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Kiryakov (b. 1963), Bulgaria | 6 | Shooting sport | 1988–2008 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| M. Mutola (b. 1972), Mozambique | 6 | Athletics | 1988–2008 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| J. N'Tyamba (b. 1968), Angola | 6 | Athletics | 1988–2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Tomkins (b. 1965), Australia | 6 | Rowing | 1988–2008 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Y. Hirvi (b. 1960), Finland | 6 | Shooting sport | 1988–2008 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| V. Khalupa Jr. (b. 1967), Czechoslovakia (2), Czech Republic (4) | 6 | Rowing | 1988–2008 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Yu. Yaanson (b. 1965), USSR (1), Estonia (5) | 6 | Rowing | 1988–2008 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| E. Nicholson (b. 1964), New Zealand | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1984, 1992–1996, 2004–2012 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| R. Mark (b. 1964), Australia | 6 | Shooting sport | 1988–2000, 2008–2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| S. Martynov (b. 1968), USSR (1), Belarus (5) | 6 | Shooting sport | 1988, 1996–2012 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| D. Buyukuncu (b. 1976), Türkiye | 6 | Swimming | 1992–2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| N. Valeeva (b. 1969), United Team (1), Moldova (1), Italy (4) | 6 | Archery | 1992–2012 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| S. Gilgertova (b. 1968), Czechoslovakia (1), Czech Republic (5) | 6 | Rowing slalom | 1992–2012 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| N. Grasu (b. 1971), Romania | 6 | Athletics | 1992–2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Grozdeva (b. 1972), Bulgaria | 6 | Shooting sport | 1992–2012 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| M. Diamond (b. 1972), Australia | 6 | Shooting sport | 1992–2012 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Munkhbayar (b. 1969), Mongolia (3) Germany (3) | 6 | Shooting sport | 1992–2012 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| F. Dumoulin (b. 1973), France | 6 | Shooting sport | 1992–2012 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Y. Yovchev (b. 1973) Bulgaria | 6 | Gymnastics | 1992–2012 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| F. Löf (b. 1969), Sweden | 6 | Sailing | 1992–2012 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| U. Oyama (b. 1969), Brazil | 6 | Table tennis | 1992–2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R. Pessoa (b. 1972), Brazil | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1992–2012 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| A. Sensini (b. 1970), Italy | 6 | Sailing | 1992–2012 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| D. Topic (b. 1971), Independent Olympic athletes (1), Yugoslavia (2), Serbia and Montenegro (1) Serbia (2) | 6 | Athletics | 1992–2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E. Williamson (b. 1971), UK | 6 | Archery | 1992–2012 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| L. Frölander (b. 1974), Sweden | 6 | Swimming | 1992–2012 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| E. Estes (b. 1975), United Team (1) Russia (5) | 6 | Volleyball | 1992–2012 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| J. Whitaker (b. 1955), UK | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1984, 1992–2000, 2008, 2016 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| K. Donkers (b. 1971), Belgium | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1992, 2000–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Alshammar (b. 1977), Sweden | 6 | Swimming | 1996–2016 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| A. Gadorfalvy (b. 1976), Hungary | 6 | Sailing | 1996–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Evglevskaya (b. 1963), Belarus (2) Australia (4) | 6 | Shooting sport | 1996–2016 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| E. Milev (b. 1968), Bulgaria (4) USA (2) | 6 | Shooting sport | 1996–2016 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A. Mohamed (b. 1976), Hungary | 6 | Fencing | 1996–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Nestor (b. 1972), Canada | 6 | Tennis | 1996–2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Road (b. 1979), USA | 6 | Shooting sport | 1996–2016 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| V. Samsonov (b. 1976), Belarus | 6 | Table tennis | 1996–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Yu. Tetyukhin (b. 1975), Russia | 6 | Volleyball | 1996–2016 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| O. Tufte (b. 1976), Norway | 6 | Rowing | 1996–2016 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Formiga (b. 1978), Brazil | 6 | Football | 1996–2016 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| R. Scheidt (b. 1973), Brazil | 6 | Sailing | 1996–2016 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
*The athlete also competed at the Olympic Winter Games.
It is traditionally believed that the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece took place from 776 BC. e. to 394 AD e. every 4 years. They were a series of sports competitions between city-states and were one of the Panhellenic games. The inhabitants of Hellas gave them a mythological origin. They believed that Zeus was the patron of games. On the eve of the Olympics, a sacred truce was declared so that athletes and spectators could freely get from their cities to the site of the games.
The competition was held in Olympia, in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese. There was a sanctuary of Zeus with his statue, which was considered one of the seven wonders of the world. The sanctuary was a huge temple, reaching a height of 18 meters and a length of 66 meters. It was in it that the statue made of ivory was located. Its height was 12 meters.
The competitions themselves took place at the Olympic stadium. In the 5th century BC. e. it was expanded, modernized, and it began to accommodate 40 thousand spectators. Its sports field was 212 meters long and 32 meters wide. There was also a hippodrome with a length of 700 meters and a width of 300 meters. Wreaths of olive leaves were placed on the winners' heads, and the games themselves had extremely important political significance. Thanks to their spectacle and popularity, Hellenistic culture spread throughout the Mediterranean.
Only residents of Ancient Greece could take part in the Olympic Games. At the same time, many athletes from distant cities had to prove their Greek origin. Nationals of other states were not allowed to participate in the games. Neither money nor noble origin could help here. All these issues were decided by the Hellanodics - the judges of the Olympic Games. They were chosen from among the most worthy people, and they strictly monitored compliance with all the rules. But when the Romans conquered Greece, they also began to take part in sports competitions.
Mythological origins of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece
There are several myths that explain the emergence of popular sports competitions. The most famous of them is given by the Greek historian Pausanias. According to it, the dactyl Hercules (not to be confused with the son of Zeus) and his 4 brothers came to Olympia to participate in sports competitions in honor of the newborn Zeus. Hercules defeated everyone, and an olive wreath was placed on his head. After this, the winner organized sports competitions with a sequence of 5 years according to the number of brothers.
Another myth concerns Pelops, the king of Pisa in the Peloponnese. Before him, King Oenomaus ruled in Pisa. He had a beautiful daughter, Hippodamia. The oracle predicted to the king that he would be killed by his daughter's husband. Therefore, Oenomaus set a condition for all suitors: the candidate for his daughter’s hand would ride with her in the same chariot, and the king must catch up with them in another chariot. If he catches up, he will kill the groom with a spear. But the young people did not know that the horses harnessed to the king’s chariot were presented to him by Poseidon himself, and therefore they rushed faster than the wind.
The suitors died one after another, and Hippodamia continued to go as a bride. But one day a young and handsome Pelops came to the royal palace to woo, and the royal daughter fell in love with him. The king's charioteer was Myrtil (son of Hermes), and Hippodamia persuaded him to replace the bronze axles of the royal chariot wheels with wax ones. For this she promised Myrtil the privilege of the first night. The driver could not resist the beauty of the young girl and agreed.
During the race, the wax became hot and melted. As a result of this, the chariot overturned, and the king fell to the ground and died. At the same moment, lightning struck the royal palace and turned it into ashes. There was only one wooden pillar left, which stood for many centuries next to the temple of Zeus. And Pelops married Hippodamia and became king of Pisa.
In memory of the untimely death of Oenomaus, Pelops organized chariot races as funeral games. It was these funeral races that later transformed into the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece.
There is another myth that is attributed to Pindar. Allegedly, this ancient Greek lyricist claimed that the son of Zeus, Hercules, having completed his 12 labors, established a sports festival in Olympia in honor of his father. Since then, it has become customary to consider Hercules as the organizer of the Olympics.
The official version of the origin of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece
As for the official version, it is believed that the Olympic Games began in ancient times, then stopped for some reason. They were revived again by the Spartan legislator Lycurgus, who lived in the 9th century BC. e. The king of Elis, Iphitus, and Cleisthenes of Pisa also took part in their renewal. These two people were contemporaries of Lycurgus, and showed activity at the behest of the Delphic oracle. He stated that the people deviated from the gods, and this became the cause of wars and plague. With the restoration of the games, all this will stop.
This version was set forth by Pausanias, who lived in the 2nd century AD. e. And therefore you cannot trust her unconditionally. Most likely, the origins of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece date back to the Mycenaean period. At first these were funeral games associated with magical rituals. Over the centuries, they were transformed into sports competitions, and in this form they existed for 1000 years.
Wrestling competition at the Olympic Games
Throughout this vast period of time, the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece had extremely important political and economic significance. Therefore, several powerful groups of the Greek aristocracy constantly fought for control of the sanctuary at Olympia. Sometimes it was captured by force, then others took it away, and this continued for centuries. These games were the most prestigious of all 4 Panhellenic games, but by 385 AD. e. fell into a state of decline. The cause was floods, earthquakes, and barbarian invasions. In 394, the games stopped by order of the Roman Emperor Theodosius I, who began the fight against pagan holidays.
Sports
The total duration of each Olympic Games in Ancient Greece took no more than a week. At first, sacrifices were made in honor of Zeus, and several dozen bulls were slaughtered. Then celebrations and feasts were held. Only after this came the turn of the sports competitions themselves. The first such competitions ended during the day, since only one runner showed strength and endurance. But with the advent of pentathlon and other types of sports competitions, one day was no longer enough, and spectators began to enjoy the performance of athletes for 3-4 days.
Running with shields and helmets
The main competition was the pentathlon - running, long jump, javelin throw, discus throw, Greek wrestling. Chariot races, which attracted huge numbers of spectators, were no less popular. Running began to be practiced in 776 BC. e. This was the only type of competition until 724 BC. e. And therefore the names of some winners are known even today. The runners ran 178 meters. Running began from a standing position. They ran naked on the compacted earth, and the signal for the start of the competition was the sound of a trumpet.
Pentathlon began to be practiced in 708 BC. e. At the same time, running, jumping and throwing took place in the stadium, but the wrestling took place outside the Temple of Zeus on a special site, the ground of which was sand. It is difficult to say now how victory was awarded in the pentathlon. Perhaps the athlete who won 3 events was declared the winner, since it was simply impossible to win in all 5 events. It is also assumed that only a small number of competitors got to the point of wrestling, and it was the winner who was considered the champion.
Chariot racing drawn by 4 horses began to be practiced in 680 BC. e. And in 500 BC. e. began to compete in mule-drawn carts. Racing with 2 horses in a chariot began in 408 BC. e. Here we can recall the Roman Emperor Nero. In 67 he took part in a chariot race at Olympia. To everyone's embarrassment, the emperor was thrown from his chariot and was unable to complete the race. But the victory was awarded to Nero, considering that he would definitely have won if he had finished the race.
It’s not surprising to fly out of the chariot at such speeds and turns, you can’t help but sympathize with Nero
In 648 BC. e. I started practicing pankration (fighting with a minimum of rules). And in 520 BC. e. a type of sports called hoplitodromos appeared. Its participants ran a distance of 400 meters wearing helmets, knee pads and wooden shields.
In general, it should be noted that the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece were extremely popular, and the winners were celebrated as national heroes. Some names of such people have come down to us from time immemorial. This indicates great respect and veneration for athletes, because they glorified not only their names, but also the cities in which they lived. The popularity of the Olympic Games was so high that they were revived in 1896 and are still held today in different cities around the world. This differs from the ancient games, which were held only in Olympia.
The history of the Olympic Games is quite mysterious. No wonder. After all, the very first events took place in the 8th century BC. Much information has been lost irretrievably over the years. And myths are woven into the origin story.But it is not all that bad. Some buildings of that time, statues, sculptures, and household items have been preserved. Scientists have been slowly and confidently excavating them for almost two centuries. There is also documentary evidence. With their help, historians managed to recreate a completely objective picture.
It should also be understood that the period of the ancient Olympic movement covers more than one thousand one hundred years. This is a huge number of generations of the best of the best athletes. These are almost 300 Olympiads, which were held constantly, continuously, every four years, for twelve centuries in a row.
How it all began
If we go back to the thousandth year of the ancient era, we will find ourselves in an era when Olympia became a real temple of the god Zeus - the lord of the sky, thunder and lightning. This supreme god had a long mythical history before his localization on Mount Olympus and gained much love and worship from the common people.
And this is the goddess Nike, the goddess of victory. She symbolized a winged spirit thirsting for primacy.
Thus, observing numerous religious rituals, competitions began to emerge. The first is running. The men made a ritual race to the altar of Zeus, giving away their energy. This happened in 776 BC. e. Athletes consider this year to be the birthday of athletics.
You need to understand that religious rituals were carried out before, just from 776 BC. e. began to keep documentary records. There are references to the Olympics in fiction as well. For example, the poet Homer, in his work “The Iliad”, celebrates the Olympic competitions.
Many scientists believe that records began to be kept because writing appeared. In the non-literate era, this was simply impossible.
Nudity
Nudity is perhaps the most surprising and entertaining aspect of ancient games. After all, the athletes were without clothes during all the competitions.
It is believed that this tradition was picked up by athletes after 720 BC. e. An interesting incident happened. It happened that during the competition, one athlete named Arsip, who came to the finish line first, turned out to be completely naked. He lost the bandage due to running fast. All athletes decided to continue competing naked. This custom spread very quickly and was picked up by athletes in all sports.
This transition was natural. In Ancient Greece, the cult of the perfect body was very great. The Greeks admired the ideal forms and strength that constant training gave.
In addition, many scientists believe that nudity is the result of behavior that was common in a society where homosexuality was not something shameful.
Not everyone knows that the very word gymnasium “gymnasion” - where the Greeks studied, means a place for exercise, and the word “gymnos” - naked, naked.
Gymnasiums appeared during the development of the Olympic movement, in the 600s BC. e. Gymnasiums were originally used as places for training.
While there is no direct link between competitive nudity and homosexuality, both phenomena have influenced each other.
Who could participate and who couldn't
Only local residents of Olympia took part in the very first games. This continued for more than a hundred years, until all Greek citizens were allowed to participate in the competition. Even later, residents of the Greek colonies were allowed to participate in the competition.
There were other restrictions. The athlete had to have an impeccable reputation. Offenders, slaves, and foreigners were not allowed to participate in the games.
There were no age restrictions. If a young man felt strong, desired fame and met the above requirements, he could compete on an equal basis with adult men. True, gradually, various distinctions were introduced.
Although the primary goal was the Olympics, people came together in pursuit of secondary goals. It was a meeting place for prominent figures of that time.
Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Herodotus - they had the opportunity to announce their works to a large number of people gathered. 
Since the position of women in Ancient Greek society was much lower in status than that of men, they had no right to either take part in competitions or be present as a spectator. A woman was strictly forbidden to even approach the sacred place or cross the Altis River. The violator was punishable by death - she was thrown into the abyss.
True, there were still exceptions.
➤ There is information that priestesses could attend the festival. This is a separate part of the female population that worships the goddess Aphrodite. In essence, priestesses are prostitutes hiding behind religious canons.
➤ Oddly enough, a high-class woman could exhibit her quadriga, and was allowed to enter the hippodrome.
➤ Scientists have information that virgins of rich and noble parents could watch the brutal games of naked men. This introductory foreplay prepared them for the idea of marriage and allowed them to look at the best of the best representatives of the opposite sex.
Organization of games
The month of August, during the full moon, was chosen as the time for the games. The athletes arrived thirty days before the opening and began training under the supervision of judges (helanodics). These members of the Ancient Greek Committee could remove an athlete from competition if he violated generally accepted rules.
Here is a tunnel that heard the footsteps of brave athletes and the numerous screams of the crowd that greeted them.
Long before the opening, a large audience gathered. A huge tent city was formed around the stadium in fields and olive groves - the ancestor of our Olympic villages.
The games were of such great importance and such respect among many neighboring countries that representatives of states that were currently at war came here. That is why the truce was signed. A sacred disk was used for this. All arriving guests were protected by the truce.
The wars in which this region has always been rich stopped. True, there is information that these truces have been violated several times.
After the first Olympiads, the Greeks decided to divide sports in such a way that there would be some kind of competition for each year. If an athlete won all four games in a row, he received the title - periodonics. Over the entire centuries-long period of periodonists, forty-six people are listed.
First day
There were no competitions on this day. This day was dedicated to religious purification. Athletes visited the sanctuary where they made sacrifices. More often than others, there is information that the victim was supposed to be the genitals of a bull.
After the sacrifice, the athletes swore to compete fairly. The oath was very serious, and the violator was severely punished.
It was not easy for him to be removed from the competition, but he was subject to a huge fine. And lack of money could lead to slavery.
Types of Olympic Games
Every type of sports game has a story to tell. All these types of competitions are the ancestors of today's sports.
Run
The very first species, from which it all began, had a special meaning. After all, each subsequent Olympics was named after the Olympian who won the race.Athletes ran along paths that differed little from modern ones. There were even recesses at the start for resting your toes.
The sprinters ran a distance of approximately 180 meters. 20 runners could run at the same time. For complete fairness, starting positions were drawn by lot.
False starts were strictly prohibited. Those who missed the start before the allotted time were beaten with sticks. In the 4th century BC. e. This problem was solved - they invented an honest start mechanism.
It is not known what results the Greeks showed in the races. No one recorded the results or compared them with the previous ones. Nevertheless, there are various data that there were athletes who overtook hares, did not leave marks on the sand, and came to the finish line far ahead of their opponents.
There were other types of races: a double distance race, competitions in dolichos (long run), in combat uniform, which was about 20 kilograms.
Of the most famous runners of that time, Leonidas of Rhodes is considered the most famous. He won four Olympics in 164-152 BC. e. In races over various distances, including with equipment. He received 12 Olympic wreaths. In his homeland, the island of Rhodes, a monument was erected to Leonid of Rhodes with the inscription: “He ran like a god.”
Struggle
Although the fighters fought according to certain rules, it was a desperate and tough competition. Cases when athletes gave their lives in the ring were not uncommon. For the sake of glory, athletes were ready to do a lot. They were extolled for their bravery, heroism, courage and will to win.
From 688 BC. e. The Hellanodics decided to include fist fights in the program. A little later they added wrestling, and in 648 the most brutal form, pankration, was included in the Olympic program.
Paekration is a fight without restrictions and rules. Everything is allowed. Unless there is a ban on biting and eye gouging. In such competitions, the risk of injury and even being killed was very high, which was especially popular with the bloodthirsty public.
Archaeologists have found information about the magnificent hero Milo of Croton, who lived around 520 BC. e., who became the winner of six Olympics in a row. He possessed superhuman strength.
From 146 BC. e., the Olympics had new owners - the Romans. Apparently, they thought there was not enough blood. And the rivals began to insert spikes into their leather belts to wrap their hands. The fist fight began to resemble a knife fight. Many dropped out of the competition after the first blow.
No one was recognized. If the opponents showed equal preparation, the judges announced a climax. The fighters began exchanging open blows.
The battle could last for several hours. The athletes fought to the death, as in war, on the battlefield and were ready to die, trying to snatch victory at any cost.
Chariots
This is real recklessness and risk. Here, too, not everyone reached the finish line. Nobility was not thought of in these competitions. Everyone fought desperately and toughly.
It was a test of skill. After all, the charioteer was not cleaned up in any way. 44 chariots could participate in the race at the same time. Each quadriga was harnessed by four of the best horses.
Women could also display their quadrigas. And the winner was considered not the desperate charioteer, but the owner of the quadriga. In the entire centuries-old history of the Olympic Games, only one woman received the winner's wreath. This was the daughter of the then reigning emperor.
The largest number of accidents occurred at U-turns. This is a place where athletes were simply thrown out of their chariots. Collisions of several quadrigas led to overturning of the “vehicles”, knocking down horses, and causing jams for other racing crews who were unable to slow down. The degree of danger was absurd. There is a well-known case where 43 out of 44 chariots crashed in a race.
After the chariot races there were horse races. These were no less difficult competitions, where jockeys on bareback horses controlled them only with their own knees and a whip.
Pentathlon
The pentathlon valued a variety of qualities, but emphasized balance and grace. Here one could see the proportions of the human body. These athletes served as models. Sculptors depicted gods from their ideal bodies.The winner of the pentathlon was recognized as the main athlete of the games!
It was necessary to participate in the race, then jump, throw the discus and javelin perfectly, and also prove oneself in the fight. Ancient competitions were very different from modern ones. The mines had a special loop that increased the flight range. The throwing disc weighed 6 kilograms 800 grams - this is three times heavier than what is thrown now.
An intriguing difference was observed in long jumps, which were performed with weights in the hands to increase momentum and length of the jump. The weight of the cargo ranged from 2 to 7 kilograms. Indeed, if you skillfully use inertial force during a jump, the load will literally drag the jumper forward.
It is not known how true the information that has survived to this day is that the jumper Fail, who participated in the 110th Olympics, jumped over the jumping pit. It was a standard hole for those times - 15 meters.
Awarding
The official winner was announced by the judges. It could be a participant who died during the competition. Then the joy was darkened.
The alive and healthy winner received an olive wreath, ascended a bronze tripod and greeted numerous admirers from the pedestal. The most capable athletes who were able to win competitions three or more times were awarded a Bust.
The athlete was immediately included in the circle of the chosen ones!
Returning home, the Olympian was considered a hero and received numerous gifts. The heroes of the games were worshiped as gods, believing that since the gods were merciful to the champion and allowed him to surpass his rivals, he was endowed with some kind of higher power.
The sweat of such an athlete became an expensive commodity. It was collected from the athlete’s body along with dust, placed in small containers and sold. Sweat was used as a magical potion.
Only the winner was honored. There were no silver or bronze winners.
Interruption of the Olympic Games
The ancient games disappeared when Olympia itself disappeared.
Historians have established that the last Olympics of antiquity took place in 394 AD. Emperor Theodosius I banned it by decree. He was a deeply religious peasant and viewed the games as a manifestation of paganism.
The son of Theodosius I, Theodosius II completed the work begun by his father. Using fire, he dealt with the sanctuary and temple of Zeus.
The end of the Olympic Games was a consequence of a change in religion!
But more recently, archaeologists have found marble tablets with inscriptions left by fourteen different athletes who were winners of the Olympics after 394. The inscriptions were made one after another in different handwritings, the last one at the end of the 4th century AD. It turns out that history did not take into account 120 years.
True, the scientific world found little such evidence. In addition, they do not fit well into the reality of historical events of that time. Supporters of this version will have to work hard to find additional information.
The final correction of the place, so glorified by the ancient Greeks, was made by nature itself. At the beginning of the fifth century, two earthquakes occurred here, thoroughly destroying the remaining buildings. Closer to the sixth century, these places suffered from extensive floods that destroyed the remains of ancient Olympia. For thirteen long centuries the ruins of ancient civilization were hidden under an eight-meter layer of dirt and earth.
Excavations began in 1829 and have not stopped to this day, allowing us to form an objective picture of the past.
But that is another story...
The content of the article
OLYMPIC GAMES OF ANCIENT GREECE- the largest sports competitions of antiquity. They originated as part of a religious cult and were carried out from 776 BC. to 394 AD (a total of 293 Olympics were held) in Olympia, which was considered a sacred place by the Greeks. The name of the Games comes from Olympia. The Olympic Games were a significant event for all of Ancient Greece, going beyond the scope of a purely sporting event. Victory at the Olympics was considered extremely honorable both for the athlete and for the polis that he represented.
From the 6th century BC. Following the example of the Olympic Games, other pan-Greek athletic competitions began to be held: the Pythian Games, the Isthmian Games and the Nemean Games, also dedicated to various ancient Greek gods. But the Olympics were the most prestigious among these competitions. The Olympic Games are mentioned in the works of Plutarch, Herodotus, Pindar, Lucian, Pausanias, Simonides and other ancient authors.
At the end of the 19th century. The Olympic Games were revived on the initiative of Pierre de Coubertin.
The Olympic Games from inception to decline.
There are many legends about the origins of the Olympic Games. All of them are associated with ancient Greek gods and heroes.
The most famous legend says how the king of Elis, Iphit, seeing that his people were tired of endless wars, went to Delphi, where the priestess of Apollo conveyed to him the command of the gods: to organize pan-Greek athletic festivals that suited them. After which Iphitus, the Spartan legislator Lycurgus and the Athenian legislator and reformer Cliosthenes established the procedure for holding such games and entered into a sacred alliance. Olympia, where this festival was to be held, was declared a sacred place, and anyone who entered its boundaries armed was declared a criminal.
According to another myth, Zeus's son Hercules brought the sacred olive branch to Olympia and instituted athletic games to commemorate Zeus' victory over his ferocious father Cronus.
There is also a known legend that Hercules, having organized the Olympic Games, perpetuated the memory of Pelops (Pelops), who won the chariot race of the cruel king Oenomaus. And the name Pelops was given to the Peloponnese region, where the “capital” of the ancient Olympic Games was located.
Religious ceremonies were an obligatory part of the ancient Olympic Games. According to established custom, the first day of the Games was set aside for sacrifices: athletes spent this day at the altars and altars of their patron gods. A similar ritual was repeated on the final day of the Olympic Games, when awards were presented to the winners.
During the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, wars stopped and a truce was concluded - ekeheria, and representatives of the warring policies held peace negotiations in Olympia in order to resolve conflicts. On the bronze disk of Iphitus with the rules of the Olympic Games kept in Olympia in the Temple of Hera, the corresponding point was written. “On the disk of Iphitus is written the text of the truce that the Eleans declare for the duration of the Olympic Games; it is not written in straight lines, but the words go along a disk in the form of a circle" (Pausanias, Description of Hellas).
From the Olympic Games 776 BC (the earliest Games, the mention of which has reached us - according to some experts, the Olympic Games began to be held more than 100 years earlier) the Greeks were counting a special “Olympic chronology” introduced by the historian Timaeus. The Olympic holiday was celebrated in the “holy month”, beginning with the first full moon after the summer solstice. It was to be repeated every 1417 days that made up the Olympiad – the Greek “Olympic” year.
Beginning as a local competition, the Olympic Games eventually became a pan-Hellenic event. Many people came to the Games not only from Greece itself, but also from its colony cities from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.
The games continued even when Hellas fell under the control of Rome (in the middle of the 2nd century BC), as a result of which one of the fundamental Olympic principles was violated, which allowed only Greek citizens to participate in the Olympic Games, and even some Roman emperors (including Nero, who “won” a chariot race drawn by ten horses). Affected the Olympic Games and began in the 4th century BC. the general decline of Greek culture: they gradually lost their former meaning and essence, turning from a sports competition and a significant social event into a purely entertaining event, in which mainly professional athletes participated.
And in 394 AD. The Olympic Games were banned - as a “relic of paganism” - by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I, who forcibly introduced Christianity.
Olympia.
Located in the northwestern part of the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Here was Altis (Altis) - the legendary sacred grove of Zeus and a temple and cult complex, which was finally formed around the 6th century. BC. On the territory of the sanctuary there were religious buildings, monuments, sports facilities and houses where athletes and guests lived during the competitions. The Olympic sanctuary remained the focus of Greek art until the 4th century. BC.
Soon after the ban on the Olympic Games, all these structures were burned by order of Emperor Theodosius II (in 426 AD), and a century later they were finally destroyed and buried by strong earthquakes and river floods.
As a result of those held in Olympia at the end of the 19th century. Archaeological excavations were able to discover the ruins of some buildings, including those for sports purposes, such as the palaestra, gymnasium and stadium. Built in the 3rd century. BC. palaestra - an area surrounded by a portico where wrestlers, boxers and jumpers trained. Gymnasium, built in the 3rd–2nd centuries. BC, is the largest building in Olympia, it was used for training sprinters. The gymnasium also housed a list of winners and a list of the Olympics, and there were statues of athletes. The stadium (212.5 m long and 28.5 m wide) with stands and seats for judges was built in 330–320 BC. It could accommodate about 45,000 spectators.
Organization of Games.
All freeborn Greek citizens (according to some sources, men who could speak Greek) were allowed to participate in the Olympic Games. Slaves and barbarians, i.e. persons of non-Greek origin could not participate in the Olympic Games. “When Alexander wished to take part in the competition and came to Olympia for this, the Hellenes, the participants in the competition, demanded his exclusion. These competitions, they said, were for the Hellenes, not for the barbarians. Alexander proved that he was an Argive, and the judges recognized his Hellenic origin. He took part in a running race and reached the goal at the same time as the winner” (Herodotus. Story).
The organization of the ancient Olympic Games included control not only over the course of the Games themselves, but also over the preparation of athletes for them. Control was exercised by the Hellanodics, or Hellanodics, the most authoritative citizens. During the 10–12 months before the start of the Games, athletes underwent intensive training, after which they passed a kind of exam by the Hellanodic Commission. After fulfilling the “Olympic standard”, future participants in the Olympic Games trained for another month according to a special program - already under the guidance of the Hellanodics.
The fundamental principle of the competition was the honesty of the participants. Before the start of the competition, they swore an oath to abide by the rules. The Hellanodics had the right to deprive the champion of the title if he won by fraud; the guilty athlete was also subject to a fine and corporal punishment. In front of the entrance to the stadium at Olympia, there were zanas for the edification of participants - copper statues of Zeus, cast with money received in the form of fines from athletes who violated the rules of the competition (the ancient Greek writer Pausanias indicates that the first six such statues were erected in the 98th Olympiad, when The Thessalian Eupolus bribed three fighters who competed with him). In addition, persons convicted of committing a crime or sacrilege were not allowed to participate in the Games.
Entry to the competition was free. But only men could attend them; women, under penalty of death, were forbidden to appear in Olympia during the entire celebration (according to some sources, this ban applied only to married women). An exception was made only for the priestess of the goddess Demeter: a special marble throne was built for her in the stadium, in the most honorable place.
Program of the ancient Olympic Games.
At first, the program of the Olympic Games included only a stadium track - running one stage (192.27 m), then the number of Olympic disciplines increased. Let's note some fundamental changes in the program:
- at the 14th Olympic Games (724 BC), the program included diaulos - a 2nd stage run, and 4 years later - a dolichodrome (endurance run), the distance of which ranged from 7 to 24 stages;
– at the 18th Olympic Games (708 BC), wrestling and pentathlon (pentathlon) competitions were held for the first time, which included, in addition to wrestling and the stadium, jumping, as well as javelin and discus throwing;
– at the 23rd Olympic Games (688 BC), fist fighting was included in the competition program,
– at the 25th Olympic Games (680 BC) chariot races (drawn by four adult horses) were added, over time this type of program expanded, in the 5th–4th centuries BC chariot races drawn by a pair of adult horses began to be held , young horses or mules);
– at the 33rd Olympic Games (648 BC), horse racing appeared in the program of the Games (in the mid-3rd century BC, foal racing also began to be held) and pankration, a martial arts that combined elements of wrestling and fist fighting with minimal restrictions on “prohibited techniques” and in many ways reminiscent of modern martial arts.
Greek gods and mythological heroes were involved in the emergence of not only the Olympic Games as a whole, but also their individual disciplines. For example, it was believed that running one stage was introduced by Hercules himself, who personally measured this distance in Olympia (1 stage was equal to the length of 600 feet of the priest Zeus), and pankration dates back to the legendary battle of Theseus with the Minotaur.
Some of the disciplines of the ancient Olympic Games, familiar to us from modern competitions, differ markedly from their modern counterparts. Greek athletes did not perform long jumps from a running start, but from a standing position - moreover, with stones (later with dumbbells) in their hands. At the end of the jump, the athlete threw the stones sharply back: it was believed that this allowed him to jump further. This jumping technique required good coordination. Throwing a javelin and a discus (over time, instead of a stone one, athletes began to throw an iron discus) was carried out from a small elevation. In this case, the javelin was thrown not for distance, but for accuracy: the athlete had to hit a special target. In wrestling and boxing there was no division of participants into weight categories, and a boxing match continued until one of the opponents admitted defeat or was unable to continue the fight. There were very unique varieties of running disciplines: running in full armor (that is, in a helmet, with a shield and weapons), running of heralds and trumpeters, alternating running and chariot racing.
From the 37th Games (632 BC), young men under the age of 20 began to participate in competitions. At first, competitions in this age category included only running and wrestling; over time, pentathlon, fist fighting and pankration were added to them.
In addition to athletic competitions, an art competition was also held at the Olympic Games, which became an official part of the program from the 84th Games (444 BC).
Initially, the Olympic Games took one day, then (with the expansion of the program) - five days (this is how long the Games lasted in their heyday in the 6th-4th centuries BC) and, in the end, “stretched” for a whole month.
Olympionists.
The winner of the Olympic Games received universal recognition along with an olive wreath (this tradition dates back to 752 BC) and purple ribbons. He became one of the most respected people in his city (for whose residents the victory of a fellow countryman at the Olympics was also a great honor), he was often exempted from government duties and given other privileges. The Olympian was also given posthumous honors in his homeland. And according to the one introduced in the 6th century. BC. In practice, the three-time winner of the Games could erect his statue in Altis.
The first Olympian known to us was Korebus from Elis, who won the race over one stage in 776 BC.
The most famous - and the only athlete in the entire history of the ancient Olympic Games who won 6 Olympics - was the “strongest among the strong,” the wrestler Milo from Croton. A native of the Greek colonial city of Croton (southern modern Italy) and, according to some sources, a student of Pythagoras, he won his first victory at the 60th Olympiad (540 BC) in competitions among youths. From 532 BC to 516 BC he won 5 more Olympic titles - already among adult athletes. In 512 BC Milon, who was already over 40 years old, tried to win his seventh title, but lost to a younger opponent. Olympian Milo was also a repeated winner of the Pythian, Isthmian, Nemean Games and many local competitions. Mentions of it can be found in the works of Pausanias, Cicero and other authors.
Another outstanding athlete, Leonidas from Rhodes, won in three “running” disciplines at four Olympics in a row (164 BC - 152 BC): running one and two stages, as well as running with weapons.
Astilus from Croton entered the history of the ancient Olympic Games not only as one of the record holders for the number of victories (6 - in running one and two stages at the Games from 488 BC to 480 BC). If at his first Olympics Astil competed for Croton, then at the next two - for Syracuse. Former fellow countrymen took revenge on him for his betrayal: the statue of the champion in Crotone was demolished, and his former home was turned into a prison.
In the history of the ancient Greek Olympic Games there are entire Olympic dynasties. Thus, the grandfather of the fist fighting champion Poseidor of Rhodes, Diagoras, as well as his uncles Akusilaus and Damagetes, were also Olympians. Diagoras, whose exceptional stamina and honesty in boxing matches won him great respect from spectators and was sung in the odes of Pindar, witnessed the Olympic victories of his sons - in boxing and pankration, respectively. (According to legend, when the grateful sons placed their champion wreaths on their father’s head and lifted him onto their shoulders, one of the applauding spectators exclaimed: “Die, Diagoras, die! Die, because you have nothing more to want from life!” And the excited Diagoras died immediately in the arms of his sons.)
Many Olympians were distinguished by exceptional physical properties. For example, the champion in the two-furlong race (404 BC) Lasthenes of Tebeia is credited with winning an unusual competition with a horse, and Aegeus of Argos, who won the long-distance race (328 BC), then ran , without making a single stop along the way, he covered the distance from Olympia to his hometown in order to quickly bring the good news to his fellow countrymen. Victory was also achieved thanks to a unique technique. Thus, the extremely durable and agile boxer Melankom from Cariya, winner of the Olympic Games of 49 AD, during the fight constantly kept his arms extended forward, due to which he avoided the enemy’s blows, while he himself extremely rarely struck back - in in the end, the physically and emotionally exhausted opponent admitted defeat. And about the winner of the Olympic Games 460 BC. in the dolichodrome of Ladas from Argos they said that he runs so easily that he does not even leave traces on the ground.
Among the participants and winners of the Olympic Games were such famous scientists and thinkers as Demosthenes, Democritus, Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Pythagoras, Hippocrates. Moreover, they competed not only in the fine arts. For example, Pythagoras was a champion in fist fighting, and Plato was a champion in pankration.
Maria Ishchenko
