Pentathlon
Olympiad ( the four-year period up to the next Games ) was named after the winner , and dates were recorded by reference to the list of victors . Besides this equivalent of our ‘ two-hundred metre ’ event , there was a race along two lengths of the track , and a long-distance race of twenty or twenty-four lengths . There was no ‘ marathon ’ – this was the invention of Baron de Coubertin who revived the Olympic Games in 1896 . In all these races the runners made a standing start , from a row of stones labs set in the track that had grooves cut in them to provide a grip for the toes .
Pentathlon
The pentathlon was made up of five events – discus , jumping , javelin , running and wrestling – which all took place in one afternoon . Running and wrestling also existed as separate events . There are differences between the ancient and the modern contests . Greek discus-throwers did not spin round on the spot : they rarely managed throws of more than 30 metres , less than half the modern Olympic record .
HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF SPORTS 8