Stadion (running race)

The stadium race was one of the five disciplines of Pentathlons, but was carried out as a single discipline. A stadium in ancient times was a Greek measure of length ( = 600 Olympic feet), which works out at 192 meters.

The runners had to cover the distance once in the stadium. However, the distance was different depending on the venue, ranging from 167 meters ( Delos ) to 192.24 meters ( Olympia). According to Hippias of Elis was from 776 BC to 728 BC, the stadium run the only competition at the Olympic Games, the Olympic individual were usually named after the stadium winners. Accordingly, great were the numbers of participants, which is why Heats were required at that time.

The starting positions were drawn before. The athletes put their toes into a stone groove, stretching out their arms to shoulder height horizontally in front of him, holding the body slightly bent forward. In some installations, there was even true and proper start machines, which were lowered a wooden cross in front of the runners by pulling on a string, thus preventing false starts. From other places where such a device was missing, but it is also reported that early starters were penalized by the referee blows with rods.

The first stadium race won 776 BC Coroebus, who is therefore the first Olympic champion.

• Athletics discipline
• Ancient sport