This is not my story, in that it didn't happen to me, in fact it happened
several years before me and has retold many times so apologies if it’s a
repeat.
Today I stood inside the original Olympic Stadium. It doesn't seem like such an achievement until you realize that thousands of years ago, during the ancient times, not only were women not permitted to compete in the Olympic Games, they were not even permitted to attend. Granted many female tourists have gone before me but there was one lady in particular whose story is worth sharing...she was the very first female...Kallipateira.
The mother, daughter, sister, aunt and grandmother of Olympians, Kallipateira was well known throughout Greece. No other female had ever been so connected to that many Olympians. Frustrated that she was not permitted to attend the games, Kallipateira devised a plan to sneak into the stadium and watch her grandson compete in his event.
Her plan was quite simple...blend in. Knowing that while the athletes entered the arena nude, the trainers wore a distinctive hooded robe… Kallipateira simply obtained one of these cloaks. She draped it around her, walked through the entry gate and followed the other trainers to a spot in the grassy knoll that surrounded the field. No one was the wiser...
After her grandson finished his event victoriously; Kallipateira was unable to contain her joy and jumped to her feet with pride and excitement. A hush fell over the crowd as Kallipateira's gender was revealed to the crowd of men. After the initial shock, the people recognized the infamous women and she was surrounded by the athletes who hoisted her upon their shoulders and carried her around the stadium to the cheers of the onlookers.
It sounds like a Rosa Parks kind of tale doesn't it...sadly it doesn't end with progression. Kallipateira wasn't put to death or anything like that but a meeting was held and a new rule passed. Going forward the athletes and the trainers would enter the stadium completely nude..
Today I ran a lap of the original Olympic Stadium, fully clothed, and I'm pretty sure, that as I crossed the finish line, I heard Kallipateira's supportive cheers...
Today I stood inside the original Olympic Stadium. It doesn't seem like such an achievement until you realize that thousands of years ago, during the ancient times, not only were women not permitted to compete in the Olympic Games, they were not even permitted to attend. Granted many female tourists have gone before me but there was one lady in particular whose story is worth sharing...she was the very first female...Kallipateira.
The mother, daughter, sister, aunt and grandmother of Olympians, Kallipateira was well known throughout Greece. No other female had ever been so connected to that many Olympians. Frustrated that she was not permitted to attend the games, Kallipateira devised a plan to sneak into the stadium and watch her grandson compete in his event.
Her plan was quite simple...blend in. Knowing that while the athletes entered the arena nude, the trainers wore a distinctive hooded robe… Kallipateira simply obtained one of these cloaks. She draped it around her, walked through the entry gate and followed the other trainers to a spot in the grassy knoll that surrounded the field. No one was the wiser...
After her grandson finished his event victoriously; Kallipateira was unable to contain her joy and jumped to her feet with pride and excitement. A hush fell over the crowd as Kallipateira's gender was revealed to the crowd of men. After the initial shock, the people recognized the infamous women and she was surrounded by the athletes who hoisted her upon their shoulders and carried her around the stadium to the cheers of the onlookers.
It sounds like a Rosa Parks kind of tale doesn't it...sadly it doesn't end with progression. Kallipateira wasn't put to death or anything like that but a meeting was held and a new rule passed. Going forward the athletes and the trainers would enter the stadium completely nude..
Today I ran a lap of the original Olympic Stadium, fully clothed, and I'm pretty sure, that as I crossed the finish line, I heard Kallipateira's supportive cheers...
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