There were three other famous games where top athletes wanted to win – the Pythian games (celebrated every four years), the Nemean games (celebrated every two years), and the Isthmian games (celebrated every two years). Usually one or two of these games took place each year.

Together, these four games formed the “periodos” (circuit). If an athlete won prizes at all four games in a row, they were declared a “periodonikes” (circuit winner).

Each event at the Olympics was strictly overseen by the Hellanodikai.

If an athlete went against the rules, there were punishments. The athlete would be beaten by one of the judges with a rod, disqualified, or fined (or all three).

For example, the boxer Cleomedes of Astypalaea was famous for breaking the rules during a boxing match at Olympia in 496 or 492 BC and killing his opponent Iccus of Epidaurus. Pausanias tells us

on being convicted by the umpires of foul play and being deprived of the prize he became mad through grief and returned to Astypalaea.

In his rage at the outcome, Cleomedes used his immense strength to pull down a gymnasium in his hometown, and the collapse of the building killed some boys exercising there. He then went into hiding, eventually disappearing. He was later worshipped as a hero.

Winning and losing, then going home

Victorious athletes received olive wreathes in a presentation with the presiding officials.

This did not always go smoothly. Claudius Aelian tells the story that

an athlete from Croton, on winning at Olympia, went up to the presiding officials to receive his crown, and fell down dead from an attack of epilepsy.