Once the Olympic Games won a dead athlete

Victory or death, and no compromise



Arrihon, also called Arrahonom of Phigalia was pancratiast (athlete is engaged in pankration - ancient kind of martial arts), and lived in the VI-th century BC. e., he won at the Olympics in the 572-m and 568 m respectively BC. e.

The 564-year Arrihon reached the final for the third time, but at the end of the competition opponent grabbed him so that he is no longer able to make any movement. According to legend, his coach then shouted: "What a wonderful funeral, if you have not conquered the Olympia." The prospect of an honorable death Arrihon used wisely, he took advantage of the temporary weakness of the enemy and sprained his foot hit the right foot and to make this maneuver more effective opponent threw the body to the left. Because of the unbearable pain opponent made a sign to the judge that the rent.

Yet this time the enemy did not let the neck Arrihona, and due to the sudden movement, she broke down. Death was instantaneous, and there was a broken neck, and not by suffocation, according to Pausanias, because before dying of asphyxiation, the man for some time unconscious.

Despite the death, it Arrihon, not his opponent was declared the winner. Thus, Arrihon represents famous sports motto - "victory or death».

via factroom.ru