Olympathlon
noun  O·lym·path·lon  \oh-lim-ˈpath-lən, -ˌlän\
: an athletic contest in which participants submit a record of completing each Olympic event or an earnest or ironic simulation of the event on the day the event is held in the actual Olympics Games
c. 2012; From En. ‘Olympic Games’ (cf. Gr. ὁ Ὀλυμπικός ἀγών) +  Gr. ‘athlon’ (“contest”)

What is the Olympathlon?

The Olympathlon is an athletic contest coinciding with the Summer Olympic Games in which participants, a.k.a. “Olympathletes”, compete in each of the Olympic events the day the event occurs in the actual games. Olympathlon 2024 features 119 Olympic events and over 16 days with 4-14 events each day. The events are divided into two categories: (1) those that can be objectively compared and (2) those that must be subjectively judged.

For objective events (e.g., track and field, swimming, cycling, weightlifting, etc.), participants submit a quantitative measure of performance: e.g., a record of the time run, swum, or cycled, the distance or height  jumped, or the weight lifted. Submissions are based on the honor system. For subjective events (e.g., gymnastics, diving, basketball, water polo, etc.), participants submit a short video of them completing the event. Videos are judged based on (1) how well the event was approximated, (2) the skill of the participant, and (3) the hilarity of the video.

The Olympathlon is free and open to everyone, everywhere. Participants may compete unattached or in teams of up to eight people. The only requirement is that participants get outside, get active, exercise imagination, engage in play, make new friends, and embrace the Olympic spirit!

History of the Olympathlon

Olympathlon 2012, coinciding with the London Summer Olympic Games, was the first ever Olympathlon.  40 people representing 19 states participated. 8 teams representing 7 states were formed. 385 events were completed and 250 medals were awarded.

Olympathlon 2024, coinciding with the Paris Summer Olympic Games, will be the fourth ever Olympathlon and is expected to be bigger and better than ever before. We hope you will join us in this summer’s competition. Sign up for the newsletter and invite your friends!