26. Athletics

See also 2. ACROBATICS ; 55. BOXING ; 176. GAMES ; 347. RECREATION .

aerobics

a form of physical activity characterized by strenuous exercise of many muscle groups and intended to increase muscle tone and cardiovascular fitness. — aerobic, adj.

agonist

one who contends for a prize in public games. — agonistic, agonistical, adj.

agonistics

the art of athletic combat or contests in public games.

aquatics

the art and exercise of water sports.

athleticism

1. an active interest in sports.

2. an obsessive participation in physical activity. — athletic, adj.

calisthenics

the science, art, or practice of bodily exercises intended to promote strength, health, and grace of movement. — calisthenic, calisthenical, adj.

contortionist

a person who performs gymnastic feats involving distorted postures. — contortionistic, adj.

decathlon

an athletic contest in which the contestants compete for points awarded for performances in ten different track and field events, the winner being the one with the highest aggregate score. The events include 100-meter-meter, and 1500-meter runs-meter high hurdles, long jump, high jump, pole vault, shot-put, javelin throw, and discus throw. Cf. heptathlon, pentathlon, triathlon .

discobolus

1. a discus thrower.

2. cap., italics. the famous 5th-century B.C. statue by Myron of a discus thrower.

gymnasiast

a gymnast. See also 240. LEARNING .

gymnast

a person who is involved in or skilled in the art of gymnastics.

gymnastics

1. regimented exercises performed on floor mats and on certain specialized equipment that entail the skills of tumbling and balancing and that are intended to display flexibility, grace, and strength.

2. physical or athletic exercises; calisthenics. — gymnastic, adj.

heptathlon

an athletic competition in which contestants compete for points awarded for performances in seven different track and field events, the winner being the one with the highest aggregate score. The competition, usually for women, consists of 100-meter and 800-meter runs-meter hurdles, high jump, long jump, javelin throw, and shot-put. Cf. decathlon, pentathlon, triathlon.

isometrics

a form of physical exercise in which a set of muscles is tensed briefly, either in opposition to another set or against a solid surface. Cf. isotonics. — isometric, adj.

isotonics

muscular exercise using free weights or fixed devices to simulate resistance of weight. Cf. isometrics . — isotonic, adj.

lampadedromy

Ancient Greece. a race in honor of Prometheus in which the contestants ran bearing lit torches, the winner being the first to finish with his torch still lit. Also called lampadrome, lampadephoria .

lampadist

a contestant in a lampadedromy. Also called lampadephore, lampadophoros .

natation

the act or art of swimming or floating on water. — natatory, — natatorial, adj.

natator

a swimmer.

natatorium

a swimming pool, particularly an indoor facility.

palaestra, palestra

Ancient Greece. a public place for athletics or wrestling. — palaestric, palestric, adj.

pancratiast

a person skilled in the art of boxing or wrestling. — pancratiastic, adj.

pentathlon

1. Track and Field, an athletic contest in which the contestants compete for points awarded for performances in five different track and field contests, the winner being the one with the highest aggregate score. The events include, for women, an 800-meter run-meter hurdles, high jump, long jump, and shot-put; for men-meter and 1500-meter runs, long jump, javelin throw, and discus throw.

2. Olympic Games. Usually, modern pentathlon an athletic contest in which the contestants compete for points awarded for performances in five events: fencing, horseback riding, pistol shooting, cross-country running, and swimming.

quinquennalia

Ancient Rome. public games that took place every five years.

titlist

a champion or one who holds a title.

trampolinist

a person who performs feats of tumbling using a trampoline as a springboard. Also trampoliner . — trampoline, n .

triathlon

an intense aerobic endurance competition, typically, in its longest form, consisting of a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride, and a 26.2-mile marathon run, the winner being the one to finish all three events in the least time.