ABSTRACT
Record, an unsurpassed achievement. Our sources for Greek sport rarely report quantified records of individual achievements; the jumps of chionis and phay¨llus are unreliable exceptions. This is probably due to local variation – in the lengths of stadia and the weights of diskoi – rather than difficulties of measurement. They do, however, take pains to signal original and unique accomplishments: first citizen to win, first to win an event, number of crowns, a combination of events. The desire for records of this kind encouraged both long athletic careers and versatility. The memorials of Roman charioteers (such as diocles) often imitate athletes’ in this respect, enumerating victories and highlighting special distinctions.
