Athlete

to the athletic figure, see type of constitution

athlete (of Greek athlos = competition) designation on the one hand a sportsman and a fighter, on the other hand a Kraftmenschen with strong figure and pronounced musculature.

In the antiquity the athlete was a fighter, who participated in the gymnischen plays ( see gymnastic). In 5. Century v. Chr. became the combat play with the Greeks more and more an occupation, and the Athletik a technical skill, whose acquisition and execution a special way of life required were bound to special rules and.

In old Rome the first athletes hired in Greece stepped 186 v. Chr. up. While the Roman Kaiser era were the athletes in professional associations (guilds) organized, which there were in nearly all larger cities of the realm. In Rome became Athletenwettkämpfe ever more popularly.

The athletes of the today's time are professional sportsmen with special Lebensführung and training methods. They are supported by an extensive responsible person staff, that can cover coaches, measure your, technical aids and psychologists.

See also: Schwerathletik, Leichtathletik