| Wrestling, that sport still widely prevalent in high | | | | the Olympic Games were already a big Greek event, |
| schools nationwide, and of course made famous by | | | | they added wrestling matches to the games. As |
| professional wrestlers on television, has actually been | | | | highly skilled masters of wrestling, ancient Greeks |
| around for many, many years. As a matter of fact, | | | | were by far the champions in wrestling competitions. |
| wrestling likely got its start in ancient Greece. | | | | Of course, that could not last forever, as the Greeks |
| Wrestling is perhaps one of the oldest sports still in | | | | soon found out. |
| existence, and even still practiced in the very same | | | | It did not take long then for the idea of wrestling as |
| fashion as it was when it first began. | | | | a sport to spread throughout the world. As wrestling |
| It is believed that wrestling began as an ancient form | | | | grew and gained popularity, and with other countries |
| of military training. As it happens, wrestling develops | | | | also training men in high skill wrestling, those foreign |
| great skill in graceful movement, in addition to | | | | competitors naturally joined Olympic wrestling |
| strength. Therefore, those soldiers trained in wrestling | | | | matches. When those same foreign born competitors |
| were extremely physically fit for taking down an | | | | began to win in wrestling matches, the Greeks were |
| opponent, both in the ring and on the battlefield. | | | | less than pleased. |
| Since it was expected that most young men would | | | | Nowadays, wrestling is still very popular. Professional |
| eventually become soldiers, wrestling was also taught | | | | wrestling has become a mainstream form of |
| as part of a normal education. Like the physical | | | | entertainment drawing spectators from all walks of |
| education classes required today, wrestling was | | | | life. Also, many high schools and colleges have |
| taught to virtually every male in ancient Greek | | | | competitive wrestling teams. Over a thousand years |
| society. The Greeks believed that a well rounded | | | | after wrestling debuted, it remains a sport that is not |
| individual was healthy in spirit, mind, and body, so it is | | | | only highly practiced, but that is still well known and |
| not too surprising that they were proponents of | | | | recognized for developing discipline, skill, and physical |
| physical education. | | | | fitness. |
| Wrestling quickly became rather competitive. Since | | | | |