athlete
Athlete ( ancient Greek ἀθλητής athlētēs , modern Greek αθλητής athlitis , Latin athleta ; "competitor") describes on the one hand an athlete and competitor, on the other hand a strong man with a strong physique and pronounced muscles .
In ancient times, the athlete was a competitor who took part in gymnastic games (see: gymnastics ). In the 5th century BC Chr. Was the fighting game among the Greeks more and more of a profession and the athleticism into a skill, their learning and execution required a special way of life and was bound to special rules.
The first athletes hired in Greece appeared in ancient Rome in 186 BC. Chr. On. During the Roman Empire , the athletes were organized in professional associations ( guilds ) that existed in almost all of the larger cities of the empire. In Rome itself, athletic competitions became increasingly popular.
The athletes of today are mostly professional athletes with a special lifestyle and training methods. You will be supported by an extensive staff that can include trainers , masseurs , technical assistants and psychologists .
literature
- Emil Reisch : Athletai . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume II, 2, Stuttgart 1896, Sp. 2049-2058.
