Olympics 2008: Why Pentathletes Are the Most Beautiful
ByMary Anne Potts
August 08, 2008
3 min readText by Kelly Ruane
With the Olympics starting up today (watch the opening ceremonies tonight at 7:30 p.m. EST on NBC), no doubt most of us are eagerly awaiting the primetime crowd pleasers—gymnastics, swimming, running, beach volleyball. But this year, it’s possible to follow any number of more obscure sports, as well, on NBCOlympics.com. The newly launched site allows users to stream events on their computers, including many that don’t score much of the limelight, like the modern pentathlon. And if there’s one event that Olympics fans likely haven’t heard of but should, this is it.
The pentathlon is a rigorous daylong event deemed a “true Olympic sport” by the International Olympic Committee. First introduced to the games in 1912, it hails from the archaic period of Ancient Greece, when muscle-bound warriors would compete in five events—running, jumping, spear throwing, discus, and wrestling. Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the International Olympic Committee, once said the Pentathlon “tested a man’s moral qualities as much as his physical resources and skills, producing thereby the ideal complete athlete.”
Back in 708 B.C. when the event was introduced to the Ancient Games in Olympia (and around the same time the Chinese were inventing gunpowder), the champion of the pentathlon was declared victor ludorum, Latin for “winner of the games.” The event was considered the climax of the games, and Aristotle claimed that “a body capable of enduring all efforts, either of the racecourse or of bodily strength . . . this is why the athletes in the Pentathlon are most beautiful.”
In today’s games, the event includes shooting, fencing, swimming, horseback riding, and running. To see who will compete for the U.S. go to pentathlon.teamusa.org and watch the event on August 21 and 22.
To keep track of who’s in the lead check out the easy-to-read medal count at http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/medals.
More Olympics News:
Yahoo.com: China strides onto Olympic stage
Reuters: Heat and the Great Wall await cyclists
Yahoo: Air pollution shrouds Beijing on eve of Olympics
Yahoo: Morgan Hamm out of Olympics with ankle injury
Sports Illustrated: Chinese Islamic extremist group posts video threatening Games
NBColympics.com: The Opening Ceremony: How it works
Go Further
Animals
- This ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thoughtThis ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thought
- Why this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect senseWhy this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect sense
- When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
Environment
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?
History & Culture
- Séances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occultSéances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occult
- Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?
- Beauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century SpainBeauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century Spain
- The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’
- Heard of Zoroastrianism? The religion still has fervent followersHeard of Zoroastrianism? The religion still has fervent followers
Science
- Here's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in spaceHere's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in space
- Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.
- NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?
Travel
- What it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in MexicoWhat it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in Mexico
- Is this small English town Yorkshire's culinary capital?Is this small English town Yorkshire's culinary capital?
- Follow in the footsteps of Robin Hood in Sherwood ForestFollow in the footsteps of Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest
- This chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new directionThis chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new direction
