Greek Marathon

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Recommended: A short essay on the history of the Olympics

The biggest competition of every Ancient Greeks life, the Olympics. This was a one-day event which they competed in the “Pentathlon, this included foot races, the long jump, diskos and javelin throwing which later included wrestling” (Hemingway). If you win this, you will have fame and fortune like no other. This was the first Olympics, but it wasn’t the last. Ancient Greek athletics influence modern Olympics in competition, inspiration, and technique. There are many competitions our world has; the main one is the Olympics. “Fame and fortune awaited many ancient Olympic champions when they returned home” (Christopher). Today winners get fame and fortune just like in the ancient Olympics. “Public honors were bestowed on them, statues were dedicated …show more content…

The marathon was not an event of the ancient Olympic Games. “The marathon is a modern event that was first introduced in the Modern Olympic Games of 1896 in Athens” (“Track and Field History and the Origins of the Sport”). Most people think that the marathon has always been in the Olympics, but it hasn’t. “The race commemorates the run of Pheidippides, an ancient “day runner” who carried the news of the Persian landing at Marathon of 490 BC to Sparta (a distance of 149 miles) in order to enlist help for the battle” (“Track and Field History and the Origins of the Sport”). The marathon was actually added because of Pheidippides, not for fun. The ancient Olympics inspired the modern Olympics in many …show more content…

“Most are not aware that there was no torch relay in the ancient Olympic Games” (“The Olympics, What the Games Have Taught Us”). Most people think that the torch relay has always been in the Olympics, but it hasn’t. “It is a tradition that originated with Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime. The torch relay was supposed to show Germany’s link to the “greatness” of the ancient Greek people” (“The Olympics, What the Games Have Taught Us”). It is actually a pretty recent thing considering the length of how long the Olympics have been going on. The Ancient Greeks used many techniques to

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