![]() While the only official prize was a wreath or garland, successful athletes were supported by the governments of their cities and devoted much time to training. Participation in the Olympic Games was originally limited to free-born Greeks, but as Greek civilization was spread by the conquests of Alexander the Great, the Games drew entrants from as far away as Antioch, Sidon and Alexandria. Previously, they had all taken place on a single day. It was only in 472 BCE that the events were spread out over a period of four to five days. The Olympics came to include wrestling, boxing and the pentathlon, as well as specialized events for soldiers and heralds. By 728 BCE, two additional races had been added, comparable to the 400 m and 1,500 m races of the modern games. The Olympic Games originally featured only one event: a race called the "stade," equal to a distance of about 210 yards. It is possible that these were not the first Olympic Games to take place, but only the first recorded one. ![]() The first documented Olympic champion was named Coroebus, a cook from Elis who won the sprint race in 776 BCE. The Ancient Olympics Illustration depicting the ancient Olympic Games. The games were held every four years during August and September and the term "Olympiad," which referred to the four-year interval between competitions, was commonly used as a measurement of time. Though there were important athletic competitions held in other Greek cities in ancient times, the Olympic Games were regarded as the most prestigious. The Olympic Games took their name from the Ancient Greek city of Olympia. Image credit: Ververidis Vasilis/Shutterstock
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