What was Ancient Sparta's role in the Olympics?
Ancient Sparta's king, Archidamos, had a daughter named Kyniska of Sparta. Kyniska went on to be the first woman recorded to win the Ancient Olympics. The tradition was to forbid women from attending the Olympics, but Kyniska broke this tradition. She was a symbolic leader in the social rise of women's status. She was not the only Spartan victor of the Olympics.