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Did you know that the word athlete is derived from the word “athos,” or contest? And that the Olympic games originated as a religious festival that was held in a village named Olympia in Greece? That’s right, Ancient Greeks would trek to the fertile valley of Olympia every four years to watch the contests that took place there. Athletes would train for ten months on a full-time basis, and would then be subjected to scrutiny from the panel of judges who considered their characters, lineage, and physical prowess. Then, the little town would be flooded by up to 50,000 spectators who came from all over to watch the competitions.

Believe it or not, the first recorded Olympic game occurred in 776 BCE! For the first 50 or so years, the only event held at the Olympics was the running race that spanned the length of the stadium. Can you imagine undergoing all of that preparation and travel for one event? The person who won this race in 776 BCE was named Coroebus of Elis. Talk about going down in history! The next Olympic Games also featured a 400 yard race, and a 3.3 mile race. We’ve come a long way, baby.

By 680 BCE, chariot races made a showing in the Games. An interesting tidbit regarding this event concerns the fact that women were barred from the Games. However, if they owned a winning horse, they would be honored with a prize for victory. Prizes usually consisted of a branch from an olive tree that had been cut with a gold-handled knife. The Greeks believed that the tree’s spirit would thus be given to the recipient, ensuring vitality and vigor. The winner brought the blessings of the gods back to his village, and there would be much celebration.

All of this changed when Emperor Nero came into power. What had initially been an honorable contest became a bloody event where slaves would fight for their lives against animals. When a band of Goths destroyed the sacred shrine in Olympia, the ancient games came to an end. This occurred around 400 BCE.

Time passed. Lots of time, in fact. It wasn’t until 1894 that the Olympic Games were revived by a French Baron named Pierre de Coubertin. He believed that if countries offered their best athletes in a worldwide competition, that goodwill between nations would result. He successfully rounded up 79 representatives from 12 countries and planned a revival of the ancient contest. In 1896, the Olympic Games were once again held in Greece– Athens to be precise– and they were a fabulous success. 60,000 spectators appeared, and believe it or not, the very first event was won by an American. It was a triple jump contest championed by a man named James Connolly.

The popularity of the games floundered until 1908 in London. This event saw the first distribution of medals as awards. The games continued to flourish between and after World Wars. Since then, Olympic Games have been riddled with political disputes, though a healthy competition between countries tends to predominate. What better way to learn about other cultures than to engage in sports? The Ancient Greeks knew a good thing when they started the Olympics way back when. The vitality passed from those ancient olive tree branches continues to course through the veins of our world’s greatest athletes.