Many have tested their brute strength in a battle of tug-of-war at a function like a family reunion or corporate team building retreat. But few know that the popular backyard activity was once a highly competitive Olympic event.
Although the exact origins of tug-of-war are unknown, the earliest depictions of a rope pulling competition were found in Egyptian tomb engravings dating back more than 4,000 years. Since then, many ancient civilizations have competed in some version of tug-of-war. Around 500 B.C., Greek athletes competed in the sport or used this test of strength to train for other sports.
