On April 6 , 1896—120 years ago today — the first forward-looking Olympics were held in Athens , Greece . A pot has changed about the syndicate of competitors since 1896 ( there are less mustaches , for one ) , but one matter that has stay the same is their hunger for greatness . Here are eight of the original athlete who paved the direction for coevals of Olympians to come .
1. LAUNCESTON ELLIOT // BRITISH WEIGHTLIFTER
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Launceston Elliot was the man responsible for taking homeBritain ’s first Olympic gold medal . But Elliot was n’t turn out in Britain or even Europe for that matter — he was earlier from Imperial India , where his Padre served as a magistrate . After moving to Britain at the years of 13 , Elliot begin coach under the German weightlifter and Fatherhood of New consistence - building Eugen Sandow . He plant sail for Athens to contend in the first modern Olympics at the age of 21 , and brought home the Au with a single - handed lift of 71 kilograms ( just over 156 pounds ) .
2. SPYRIDON LOUIS // GREEK MARATHONER
The first modern Olympic marathon was won by a Greek athlete by the name ofSpyridon Louis . He completed the40 - kilometerrace in under three hours , an achievement he had prepared for with his career of enthrall fresh water to Athens on human foot . As the marathon champion he was allottedone wishfrom the King of Greece . or else of asking for wealth or belongings , he request a horse and cart to make his job a fiddling easier .
3. ALFRÉD HAJÓS // HUNGARIAN SWIMMER
At the first Olympics in 1896 , 15 - yr - old Alfréd Hajós was named the world ’s first New Olympic swim champion . That year ’s 1500 - metre race posed a fewadditional challengesthat competitors do n’t have to manage with today — namely , the 55 - arcdegree undefendable piss and 12 - metrical unit waves rocking the Bay of Zea . Hajós , who was inspired to learn to swim after watching his Fatherhood drown in the Danube River two years earlier , aver he felt driven more by his will to live than any desire to finish first .
4. LEONIDAS PYRGOS // GREEK FENCER
AfterLeonidas Pyrgosdefeated his fencing antagonist , he became the first Grecian athlete to win an Olympian upshot since the ancient games . The fence instructor would later on go on to publish a series of manuals for athletes wish to fall out in his footfall .
5. EDWIN “TEDDY” FLACK // AUSTRALIAN RUNNER
6. FRITZ HOFMANN // GERMAN ATHLETE
Fritz Hofmann was a military man of many talents . He entered the 1896 Olympic games as atrack and field athletefirst and foremost , but his veridical glory come after gain two gold medals for the German gymnastics squad . He also bring home a bronze in rophy climbing and a flatware in the 100 - cadence race . Outside of the Olympic games , he enjoyed row and cycling .
7. JOHN PIUS BOLAND // BRITISH TENNIS PLAYER
When John Pius Boland attended the first advanced Olympics in Athens , he primitively drop dead as aspectator , not a contender . The game were slightly more relaxed in those days : When one of his friends , who was unionise the events , require if he ’d like to compete , Boland thought , What the heck ? He then go forward to win both the single and doubles in men ’s tennis and became thefirst Irish - born championof the modern Olympic games .
8. THOMAS CURTIS // AMERICAN HURDLER
Athlete andMIT alumThomas Curtis trip to Athens in 1896 as part of America ’s first Olympic team . He successfully gain the 110 - meter hurdle event , one of11 championshipsearned for the U.S. that year . Later in lifespan , Curtis would go on to work for Lord Electric , where he helped develop thetoaster and the liquidiser .
