Coroebus of Elis

ancient Greek athlete

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July 22, 2026

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Coroebus of Elis was an ancient Greek athlete who won the first recorded Olympic Games sprint race in 776 BCE. He was a cook by profession. The Olympic Games were held in Olympia, Greece, in honor of Zeus and were part of a religious festival. While legends suggest the Games began earlier, historical evidence points to 776 BCE as the first recorded instance of the Games and Coroebus as the first champion. The Olympic Games were one of four major sporting festivals in ancient Greece, with others including the Pythian, Nemean, and Isthmian Games.1

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ancient Olympic Games
Origins
…listed in the records was Coroebus of Elis, a cook, who won the sprint race in 776 bce. Notions that the Olympics began much earlier than 776 bce are founded on myth, not historical evidence. According to one legend, for example, the Games were founded by Heracles, son of Zeus…
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…listed in the records was Coroebus of Elis, a cook, who won the sprint race in 776 bce. Notions that the Olympics began much earlier than 776 bce are founded on myth, not historical evidence. According to one legend, for example, the Games were founded by Heracles, son of Zeus…
Read More