THE GREATEST OLYMPIC ATHLETES





The names of over 794 ancient Olympic victors are known to us in the modern day. (see note 1) Partial victor records exist for the ancient Olympic games, held every four years for almost twelve centuries, from 776 B.C. to 393 A.C. and altogether the victor list consists of over 1029 ancient Olympic victories. (2) The first recorded victor was Koroibos of Elis who won the stadion race in 776 B.C. The last victor about whom we have information was Zopyrus, a boxer from Athens in 385 A.C. (3) Between these two dates there were a total of 291 Olympic festivals. In addition there were probably 2 additional ones after 385 A.C. for which we have no information. Some of the victors are more famous than others. I list here the 12 victors who won the most victories.







Athlete Victories Event(s) Game Years Leonidas

of Rhodes 12 stadion, diaulos, hoplitodromos 4 festivals

164, 160, 156, 152 B.C. *Herodoros

of Megara 10 heralds 10 festivals

328, 324, 320, 316, 312, 308, 304, 300, 296, 292 B.C. Hermogenes

of Xanthos 8? stadion, diaulos, hoplitodromos 3 festivals

81, 85, 89 A.C. Astylos

of Kroton/ Syracuse 7 stadion, diaulos, hoplitodromos 3 festivals

488, 484, 480 B.C. Hipposthenes

of Sparta 6 boys wrestling, wrestling 6 festivals

632, 624, 620, 616, 612, 608 B.C. Milo

of Kroton 6 boys wrestling, wrestling 6 festivals

536, 532, 528, 524, 520, 516 B.C. Chionis

of Sparta 6 stadion and diaulos 3 festivals

664, 660, 656 B.C. **Nero

of Rome 6 heralds, tragedy, lyre, tethrippon, Foals tethrippon, 10 horse chariot 1 festival

67 A.C. Gorgos

of Elis 6 diaulos, hoplitodromos, pentathlon 4 festivals

(?) Aelius Granianus

of Sikyon 5 diaulos, hoplitodromos, pentathlon 4 festivals

133, 137, 141, 145 A.C Demetrios

of Salamis 5 stadion, pentathlon 3 festivals

229, 233, 237 A.C. *Diogenes

of Ephesos 5 trumpeter 5 festivals

69, 73, 77, 81, 85 A.C. * periodonikes

** Technically the games of 67 A.C. at which Nero won 6 victories were later declared illegitimate.

TRIASTES



It is difficult to single out the finest one-day athletic Olympic achievements for various reasons. We often have incomplete or non-existent information about the competition in each of the events, the effects of lottery selection of opponents and of byes in certain field events, the weather, or other factors may have influenced the outcomes. Below is a list of the 7 Olympic athletes who won three times, as TRIASTES, in a single day. The only athlete who definitely accomplished this feat on more than one occasion was Leonidas of Rhodes who achieved TRIASTES status at four different festivals. Was Leonidas the greatest Olympic athlete of all time? Arguably he could be.



Athlete Victories Event(s) Game Years Phanas Pellene 3 stadion, diaulos, hoplitodromos 512 B.C. Astylos

of Kroton/Syracuse 3 stadion, diaulos, hoplitodromos 480 B.C. *Nikokles

of Akrion 3 stadion, diaulos, hoplitodromos 100 B.C. Leonidas

of Rhodes 12 stadion, diaulos, hoplitodromos 164, 160, 156, 152 B.C. Hekatomnos

of Miletus 3 stadion, diaulos, hoplitodromos 72 B.C. *Polites

of Keramos 3 stadion, diaulos, dolichos 69 A.C. *Hermogenes

of Xanthos 3 stadion, diaulos, hoplitodromos 81, 89 A.C. * Nikokles and Polites ran the dolichos. Hermogenes victories are not absolutely certain in these events.



Notes



1. Moretti lists a total of 794 individual Olympic victors in his two publications , L. Moretti, Olympionikai, i vincitori negli Antichi agoni Olimpici , MemLinc , Roma, 1957; L. Moretti, "Supplemento al catalogo degli Olympionikai," Klio 52, 1970, pp. 295- 303.

2. This number includes Olympic victories of uncertain date and of uncertain authenticity.

3. This information comes from a bronze inscription from the clubhouse of the athlete's guild at Olympia. The building was built in the 1 st century A.C. by Nero and was in continuous use until the late 4 th century A.C., see U. Sinn, Olympia, Cult, Sport and Ancient Festival , (Markus Wiener) Princeton, 2000, pp. 114-118.





