Diagoras

Olympic boxing champion from Rhodes, whose family produced Olympic champions over three generations.

Life

Boxing champion

Diagoras was a boxer from Rhodes who won the boxing crown at Olympia in 464 BCE and went on to win many more times at the great Panhellenic Games; the poet Pindar wrote an ode in his honor.

Pindar's ode

His three sons were also Olympic champions. Legend has it that in 448 BCE two of his sons won at Olympia on the same day and carried their father around the stadium on their shoulders, and a Spartan called out to him, "Die now, Diagoras, for you cannot climb up to heaven." He is said to have died then and there on his sons' shoulders.

Family of champions

His grandsons later won at the Olympics as well, and the family of Diagoras became the most famous sporting dynasty in the history of the ancient Olympics.

Legacy

The family of Diagoras was legendary at the Ancient Olympic Games, and the international airport on Rhodes is still named after him.

Did you know? Champions at the ancient Olympic Games received only an olive wreath, but on returning home they were treated as heroes.

Key dates

• 464 BCEWon the Olympic boxing title
• 448 BCETwo sons win on the same day (legend says he died on the spot)