Is it true that the first olympics were done nude?

Question

if so why?

Answer 1

There are two stories relating to the question of nudity at the ancient Olympic Games. One story states that it was a runner from Megara, Orsippos or Orrhippos who, in 720 B.C. was the first to run naked in the stadion race when he lost his shorts in the race. Another tradition is that it was the Spartans who introduced nudity to the Olympic Games in the 8th century B.C. as it was a Spartan tradition. It is not clear if the very first recorded victor at Olympia, Koroibos, who won the stadion race in 776 B.C. wore shorts or not. It seems fairly clear that by the late 8th century nudity was common for the male contestants.

Answer 2

If you are talking about the Olympics in ancient Greece then yes. Back then they did a lot of stuff naked including fighting battles, believe it of not.

I think they did this because they like seeing guys naked basically. It was a fairly homoerotic society back then.

The root of the word gymnastic comes from the ancient greek word for naked.

The word derives from the Greek γυμναστική (gymnastike), fem. of γυμναστικός (gymnastikos), "fond of athletic exercises"[1], from γυμνάσια (gymnasia), "exercise"[2] and that from γυμνός (gymnos), "naked"[3], because athletes exercised and competed in the nude.

Answer 3

Women weren't allowed to be spectators either. Now that women can watch the Olympics, both men and women athletes can be naked.

Answer 4

Yes, because the Ancient Greeks were a kinky lot!!

Answer 5

Yes it is true, because the first olympics were men only.

The gymnasium in ancient Greece functioned as a training facility for competitors in public games. It was also a place for socializing and engaging in intellectual pursuits. The name comes from the Greek term gymnos meaning naked. Athletes competed in the nude, a practice said to encourage aesthetic appreciation of the male body and a tribute to the Gods. Some early tyrants feared gymnasia facilitated politically subversive erotic attachments between competitors. [1] Gymnasia and palestrae were under the protection and patronage of Heracles, Hermes and, in Athens, Theseus.[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnasium_(...