Croton, Athletes of
Part of The Encyclopedia of Southern Italy.
Croton, Athletes of: During the 5th and 4th Centuries BC, the city of Croton in southern Italy produced more notable athletes than anywhere else in the Greek world. Of the 71 known victors at the Olympic Games between 588 and 488 BC, 20 were from Croton. Sparta, which was known for the athletic abilities of its citizens, ranked a distant 2nd place with 4 victors over the same period. The Crotoniates were particularly notable as runners. Out of the 26 known winners of the stadion race, 11 were from Croton, with Corcyra and Elis tied for second place with just 2 victors each. In one of these races, the first seven finishers were Crotoniates.
There have been many theories about the reasons behind the remarkable abilities of Croton’s athletes. Some claim that the city was in the habit of hiring the best athletes from other cities to compete under their name. Others believed that unlike many other cities, Croton allowed members of all social classes to participate, not just those who were high-born and wealthy. It is also important to note that Croton was also the home of one of the best medical schools in the ancient Greek world, as well as the principal center for the Pythagoreans. Thus, their athletes were able to receive the finest medical care and intellectual guidance of the age.
The extraordinary accomplishments Croton’s athlete’s came to an abrupt end after 480 BC. No Crotoniate victors are recorded in any major competition after this time. Just as there is no consensus of the reasons for Croton’s golden era of athleticism, there is no real explanation for its sudden end.