Boxing was fought without rounds until one side was either knocked out or admitted defeat. There were no weight divisions, and opponents were selected by random lot. Boxers did not wear gloves, but instead wore himantes, pieces of leather tied around the hands and wrists leaving the fingers free.

Chariot racing was a sport that only the wealthiest contestants could take part in since the cost of maintaining a chariot was prohibitively expensive. Chariot racers competed in various courses, some of which involved potentially lethal obstacles.

Horse racing was divided into separate competitions for adult horses and foals. They took place away from the athletic stadium in a large arena called the hippodrome. Stirrups were not used and the usual distance run was 1200 meters.

Pankration was a form of single combat that combined boxing, wrestling and judo. The only banned moves were biting and gouging the eyes, nose or mouth with fingernails.

Running was organised into several events. Chief among them was the stadion, which was a 192 metre sprint the length of the stadium, though there were also distance running competitions.

The hoplite race was originally conducted in full hoplite armour weighing 50-60 lbs, but by the 5th century BC competitors wore only a symbolic helmet and shield.

Wrestling required three throws of one's opponent. Biting was not allowed and neither were genital holds, but breaking an opponents' fingers was acceptable.

The pentathlon was the event from which the modern Olympics derives many of its events, including the discus, javelin, long jump, running and wrestling. Aristotle said of it "a body capable of enduring all efforts, either of the racecourse or of bodily strength... This is why the athletes in the pentathlon are most beautiful."