Olympics Revived: Athens Hosts First Modern Games
Athens hosted the first modern Olympic Games from April 6-15, 1896, after Pierre de Coubertin spent years lobbying European aristocrats and academics to revive the ancient Greek tradition. Fourteen nations sent 241 athletes, all men, to compete in 43 events. Greece's Spyridon Louis won the marathon and became an instant national hero. The Americans dominated track and field despite most of their team being college students who had paid their own way. Wrestling had no weight classes. Swimming took place in the open sea, where competitors complained about 13-degree Celsius water and 12-foot waves. Despite organizational chaos, the Games drew 80,000 spectators to the refurbished Panathenaic Stadium and proved the concept viable.
April 6, 1896
130 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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