Astylos of Croton

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Astylos of Croton ( ancient Greek Αστυλος or Αστύαλος ο Κροτωνιάτης ) was an ancient athlete from Croton (now Crotone , southern Italy) and seven times Olympic champion at the time of the Persian Wars . Twice in a row he celebrated victories in the stadium as well as in the doubles and in 480 BC in one day. He increased this brilliant achievement when he also decided to run the gun for himself. This made him the second triast (triple winner ) handed down in the history of sports in antiquity.

Astylos was the first known athlete of antiquity to turn his back on his hometown and be lured away by another city. In the year 484 he was proclaimed a Syracusan in Olympia . The means by which the tyrant Gelon of Syracuse induced him to take this step is unclear. Gelon was very interested in sports; his team of four had won in 488 at Olympia, perhaps he had met Astylos on this occasion. It is possible that political disputes played a role in Croton, in which a party whose supporter Astylos was defeated. The crotonia took this change of residence as treason and took it extremely resentful to Astylos; his statue of honor was destroyed and his house turned into a prison.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Astylos of Croton
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Greek athlete, Olympic champion
DATE OF BIRTH 6th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 5th century BC Chr.