Fourth Grade
Worksheets
Wow! The Olympics Have Changed!
Do you like to watch the Olympics? I do. I like to watch men and women from all over the world compete in the many different events. I enjoy seeing the winners earn their gold, silver, and bronze medals. I also like to see the colorful uniforms that each team wears.
Did you know that the Olympics haven't always been like they are today? The first recorded Olympics took place in Greece in 776 BC. Only free-born Greeks were allowed to compete. The Olympics started as a simple foot race. That was it. There was just one event! Slowly, new events were added. Eventually athletes competed in longer foot races, chariot races, boxing and wrestling matches, the pankration (boxing and wrestling combined) and the pentathlon (five different track and field events). Only men were allowed to compete during the ancient Olympics. These athletes didn't wear fancy uniforms. They didn't wear anything at all! When an athlete won an event, he did not earn a shiny medal like today's Olympians. Instead, he was given a wreath. Even though he did not earn any .....
