Coroebus of Elis

Coroebus of Elis, commonly spelled Koroibos (Greek: Κόροιβος Ἠλεῖος) was a humble Greek cook,^[1] baker^[2] and athlete from Elis, who won the stadion race in the first recorded Ancient Olympic Games in 776 BC.

Olympics

The stadion race of the Greeks seem to have been accurately recorded. The prize he received was an olive branch, though the honor of winning was far more prestigious than the actual prize.^[3]

According to legend, the ancient Olympic Games were founded by Heracles (the Roman Hercules), a son of Zeus. Yet the first Olympic Games for which we still have written records were held in 776 BC (though it is generally believed that the Games had been going on for many years already). At this Olympic Games, a naked runner, Coroebus (a cook from Elis), won the sole event at the Olympics, the stade - a run of approximately 192 metres (210 yards). This made Coroebus the very first Olympic champion in history.

References

Ancient Olympic Games Sports Foot races Diaulos Dolichos Hoplitodromos Stadion Horse races Apene Chariot of polos Decapolon Kalpe Keles Perfect chariot Polos Synoris Synoris of polos Tethrippon Tethrippon of polos Combat Boxing Pankration Wrestling Special Guitar contest Herald contest Pentathlon Salpinx contest Winners Acanthus of Sparta Agasias of Arcadia Agesarchus of Tritaea Alcibiades of Athens Anaxilas of Messenia Aratus of Sicyon Archelaus I of Macedon Arrhichion of Phigalia Arsinoe II Astylos of Croton Berenice I of Egypt Bilistiche Chaeron of Pellene Chilon of Patras Chionis of Sparta Cimon Coalemos Coroebus of Elis Cylon of Athens Cynisca of Sparta Demaratus of Sparta Desmon of Corinth Diagoras of Rhodes Diocles of Corinth Diocles of Messenia Ergoteles of Himera Euryleonis Hiero I of Syracuse Hypenus of Elis Hysmon of Elis Iccus of Taranto Leonidas of Rhodes Milo of Croton Nero Caesar Augustus Oebotas of Dyme Onomastus of Smyrna Orsippus of Megara Peisistratos of Athens Philinus of Cos Philip II of Macedon Philippus of Croton Phrynon of Athens Polydamas of Skotoussa Pythagoras of Samos Sostratus of Pellene Theagenes of Thasos Theron of Acragas Tiberius Caesar Augustus Timasitheus of Delphi Varazdat of Armenia Xenocles of Messenia Xenophon of Aegium Xenophon of Corinth Lists Complete list of victors Stadion race Archaic period Classical period Hellenistic period Roman period Olympia Archaeological Museum of Olympia Statue of Zeus at Olympia Temple of Zeus at Olympia Modern Olympic Games Ancient Greek Olympic festivals