Olympic Athlete
I always have respected Olympic athletes, for they spend all their time training. ... Today, the Olympic Games are the worlds largest pageant of athletic skill and competitive spirit. ... The conflict between the Olympic movements high ideals and the commercialism or political acts, which accompany the Games, has been noted since ancient times. The ancient Olympic Games, part of a major religious festival honoring Zeus, the chief Greek god, were the biggest events in their world. ... Greek youth therefore worked out in the palaestra (wrestling-school) whether they were serious Olympic contenders or not. Ancient competitors were required to train at Olympia for a month before the Games officially started, like modern competitors at the Olympic.