From One Footrace to Fierce Combat: How the Olympics Began

When the first Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C. in Olympia, Greece, the program was simple.

There was only one event.

The competition was called the stadion race, a short sprint that covered about 600 feet — the length of the Olympic track. It was run as part of a religious festival honoring Zeus, the king of the Greek gods.

The winner of that first recorded race was Coroebus, also known as Koroibos, a cook from the city of Elis. Ancient records, including victor lists and writings from historians such as Pausanias, name him as the first Olympic champion.

At the time, the Games lasted just one day and centered on that single footrace. But over the years, new events were added.

In 724 B.C., the diaulos was introduced. This race doubled the distance of the stadion. Four years later, in 720 B.C., the dolichos, a long-distance race, became part of the program.

By 708 B.C., the Olympics had expanded to include wrestling and the pentathlon, which featured five events: long jump, discus, javelin, running, and wrestling.

Boxing followed in 688 B.C.

Then came one of the most intense events in Olympic history: the pankration.

Introduced in 648 B.C., pankration means “all power” or “all strength.” It combined boxing and wrestling with kicks, throws, and chokeholds. Many historians compare it to modern mixed martial arts.

There were a few rules. Fighters could not bite or gouge an opponent’s eyes, and attacks to the genitals may have been banned. Almost everything else was allowed. Competitors fought nude, unarmed, and covered in oil.

Matches had no time limits. A bout ended only when one fighter surrendered, lost consciousness, or died.

Though brutal, pankration was popular and drew large crowds. Victors were celebrated as heroes.

When the modern Olympics were revived in 1896, organizers chose to leave pankration behind. Today’s Games include combat sports such as boxing, wrestling, judo, and taekwondo — but none allow the near-total freedom of the ancient event.

From a single sprint to a multi-sport global spectacle, the Olympics have changed dramatically over nearly 3,000 years. Yet the spirit of competition that began with one runner on a dusty track still lives on.