Towards the end of my first week in #Greece I got the chance to visit one of the most historic cities in the world, Olympia. It is an ancient site on Greece's Peloponnese peninsula that hosted the original Olympic Games, founded in the 8th century B.C.
As I posed for this picture with my then professor, Dr. Rosenberg, I understood just how lucky I was to be standing on a piece of history.
A Trip Back In Time
Olympias's extensive ruins include athletic training areas, a stadium and temples dedicated to the gods Hera and Zeus. Below is what is left of those temples and the first Olympic track.
I was also able to visit the Archaeological Museum of Olympia where it exhibits finds from the site, including a statue of Hermes attributed to the sculptor Praxiteles.
History of the Olympics
I was a track athlete all of my life and getting the opportunity to see where it all started was one I thoroughly enjoyed. I learned all about the history of the #Olympic games and how Pelops, the king of the Eleian city of Pisa, started the Olympic games in honor of Zeus.
The site where the Olympic torch used to begin its lighting
Wall of cheaters...whenever someone got caught cheating their names would be scribed on the wall and people would spit on them as they walked into the stadium.
This was a long building where people would announce the winners names and it would echo seven times. It was kind of used like a microphone.
From racing my professor on the first Olympic track that spanned about 190 meters, to enjoying the gorgeous weather and food with my classmates. This visit to Olympia was one I will never forget. #OlympicDreams