Ancient Olympic Games Athletes

Ancient Olympics, believed to have originated around 786 BC, are the fore runners of the modern Olympic Games. Started as a tribute to the Greek King Pelops, as per Greek legends, these games were opened to only Greek athletes. Ancient Olympic Games Athletes had to be a citizens of Greek states and should speak Greek. Slaves and females were barred from participation in ancient Olympic games.

Initially there was just one event in ancient Olympic Games in which athletes could particiapte. It was the stadion race - a short sprint measuring between 180 and 240 m. In 724 BC, during the 14th Olympic Games, diaulos - a two stade race- was introduced whereas the year 720 BC saw the inclusion of dolichos, a third foot race. In this event Olympic athletes have to run for approximately three miles much like the modern marathon. Hoplite race was the last running event added to the ancient Olympic Games in around 520 BC.

During the course of the event other sports such as boxing, horse riding, wrestling, pankration and pentathlon found place in ancient Olympic Games. The athletes used to compete nude in the games so as to mark the achievements of human body. The boxing was one of the most brutal sport in which hard leather with metal used to be tied around the hands of the athletes.

In the later stages of Olympics women athletes were allowed in the sole event of equestrianism.

Aurelios Zopyros (Junior Boxing), Acanthus of Sparta (diaulos), Chionis of Sparta (Diaulos, long and triple jump), Diagoras (boxing), Leonidas, Astylos ( diaulos and hoplitodromos )and Milo (wrestling) of Croton were some of the well known ancient Olympic games athletes. Cynisca of Spartia was the first woman athlete to be the Olympic victor.

Rio Olympic Updates 2016

USA earns third straight gold in basketball

Team USA defeated team Serbia to win its third straight basketball gold medal in Men’s Basketball tournament. The winning team’s coach Mike Krzyzewski was utmost delighted with his team’s victory on the final day of Rio 2016 Olympic Games. USA won by a 19-15 lead and this is their 25^th straight victory at the Olympic Games in addition to the 15^th straight victory in the basketball tournament.

Mo Farah wins 5000 m gold; Caster Semenya wins gold in women's 800m

Mo Farah of Great Britain has bagged the gold by winning the 5000 meters final and completed the double double. According to media reports, with this victory Farah has become the second man in the history of Olympics to be able to successfully defend his 5000 and 10000 Olympic championships. His victory is being hailed on Twitter with some calling him the greatest long distance runner of all time. Meanwhile, the silver medal has gone to Paul Kipkemoi Chelimo and Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia has bagged the bronze.

In the women's event, Caster Semenya of South Africa won the Olympic gold in the 800m. She won in one minute 55.28 seconds. Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi won the silver medal and Kenya's Margaret Nyairera Wambui bagged the bronze.

Chen Long Earns Gold in Men's Badminton in Olympics 2016

Chen Long of China has taken gold medal in the Rio Olympics 2016 after defeating Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, who has won a silver in men’s badminton today. Lee was facing pressure not to lose the match. He beat Lin Dan of China in the semi-final. Lee and Lin, both are considered to be the best players of their time. With Lee’s defeat, Malaysia has missed out the chance of getting an Olympic gold medal.

Italy Reaches Rio 2016 Men's Volleyball Final

Italy came up with a win and is heading to men's volleyball final against Brazil, after defeating USA. The US men's volleyball team tried all their survival skills, but could not stand in front of Italy. The winning team's thriller was 30-28, 26-28, 9-25, 25-22, 15-9. After it was over, US coach John Speraw said that the team was not skilled enough and they did not execute on some of the opportunities, which Italy flawlessly did

French boxer Mossely wins gold on her birthday

French boxer Estelle Mossely celebrated her 24^th birthday by winning a gold medal in Women’s lightweight boxing championship. She defeated China’s Yin Junhua after the end of four rounds that had the two defending champions leveled on the scorecards of three judges. The bronze medals were earned by Mira Potkonen of Finland and Anastasia Beliakova of Russia.