In the discus event a saucer-shaped discus made of stone, iron, bronze, or lead was thrown for distance. Ancient boxing had fewer rules and no weight classes or rounds and opponents were chosen randomly. Boxers fought until the opponent was unconscious or admitted that he has been beaten. In addition, boxers also wore leather thongs instead of gloves and could continue to hit the opponent while he was down. Jumpers held lead or stone halteres or jump weights to propel the body further while jumping across the pit similar to long jump. Chariot racing included two and four horse racing and 2 mule chariot racing. The winner finished twelve laps or nine miles around the track first. Horse riding was a six lap or 4.5 mile race around the track in which only the wealthy participated in because of the costly training involved. The pankration was a grueling and rigorous combination of wrestling and boxing that continued until participants acknowledged defeat. The rules only forbade biting, and gouging an opponents eyes, nose or mouth with fingernails. The final event, the pentathlon, was a five event combination of discus, javelin, long jumping, sprinting and wrestling. The ancient Greeks were highly competitive and believed strongly in the concept of or competition. The primary Greek goal was to be the best. This concept was centered among every aspect of life, especially athletics. It was therefore considered a tremendous honor to win a victory at Olympia and the fact that reward given to victors at Olympia was an olive wreath illustrates this point. The athletes competed for honor and status, not so much for material goods. It was believed that the vitality of the sacred wild olive branch was transferred to the victorious recipient.
The competitions of the ancient Greek Olympics were only open to free men of Greek descent who have not committed any serious crimes. This was later extended to include boys in 632 bc.
