Leonidas of Rhodes is described in the public record as Ancient Greek Olympic runner.
Leonidas of Rhodes (Ancient Greek: Λεωνίδας ὁ Ῥόδιος; born 188 BC) was one of the most famous ancient Olympic runners. For four consecutive Olympiads (164–152 BC), he was champion of three foot races. He was hailed with the title "Triastes" (tripler). Leonidas is acclaimed by some to be one of the greatest sprinters of all time. == Olympic career == Competing in the Olympic Games of the 154th Olympiad in 164 BC, the last of the "golden age" of the ancient Games, Leonidas captured the crown in three separate foot races: the stadion, the diaulos, and the hoplitodromos. He repeated this feat in the three subsequent Olympics, in 160 BC, in 156 BC, and finally in 152 BC at the age of 36. Leonidas's lifetime record of twelve individual Olympic victory wreaths was unmatched in the ancient world. His record was broken in 2016 by swimmer Michael Phelps. His number of victories are a testament to his versatility as a runner.
Leonidas of Rhodes is recorded among the figures by whom ancient athletics is remembered, and the surviving account of that career is the basis on which the reputation rests.
The ancient Olympic festival ran for close to twelve centuries, and a victory was recorded by the athlete's name, his father's name and his city, which is the reason any of these competitors are known at all.
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