When sports accomplishments are recorded, they become history. No matter whether an Olympic gold medal winner ever gets an endorsement deal or not, even if he or she is later convicted of a crime, or they fall on hard times and must sell their medal, those achievements are part of history. That why we know who won those ancient Greek games that inspired the modern Olympics. A few names stand out above the others.
1. Leonidas of Rhodes: Not to be confused with the Spartan king of the same name from 300, this Leonidas was one of the most famous runners in the ancient world. Eusebius recorded that he won three different foot races in four consecutive Olympic games, making him "the first and only man to win twelve Olympic crowns over four Olympiads." This record was unprecedented; Pausanias gushed, "However, the most famous runner was Leonidas of Rhodes. He maintained his speed at its prime for four Olympiads, and won twelve victories for running."
Four Olympiads? Who did he think he was, Michael Phelps? Leonidas is only the first of five stories of athletes who won fame at the ancient Olympics. And surprisingly, two of them are women.
(Image credit: Tkoletsis)