Do you know which is considered the first sport ever played in human history

Sports have been part of human civilization for thousands of years, dating back to ancient times when they were not just recreational activities but also ways to train for survival, hunting, and warfare.

The First Known Sport – Wrestling

• Wrestling is widely believed to be the first sport ever played by humans.

• Archaeological evidence, including cave paintings in France dating back to 15,300 years ago, depicts people grappling, which resembles wrestling techniques.

• Wrestling was also a major part of ancient Greek culture, introduced in the Olympic Games as early as 708 BCE.

Other Early Sports

• Running (Footraces) – Humans naturally competed in running, which is considered one of the oldest athletic activities.

• Archery – Practiced as early as 10,000 BCE as a hunting and survival skill, later turned into a sport.

• Javelin Throw & Discus – Originated in Greece as a way to train warriors.

• Ancient Ball Games – The Mayans and Aztecs played a ball game called Ōllamaliztli (dating back 3,500 years).

Fun Fact

The ancient Olympic Games (776 BCE) in Greece were the first major sporting events in recorded history, featuring wrestling, running, discus, and chariot racing.

Why Wrestling Is Considered the World’s Oldest Sport

• Ancient Evidence:

  • Cave paintings in southern France (around 15,000–17,000 years ago) depict two figures wrestling, indicating very early forms of sport.

  • Neolithic paintings from Mongolia (circa 7000 BC) also show crowds observing wrestling matches.

• Regional Archaeology:

  • Stone carvings in Mesopotamia (around 3000 BC) show multiple pairs of wrestlers; a bronze statuette from Khafaji (≈2600 BC) further highlights formal wrestling practices.

  • Egyptian tomb murals at Beni Hasan (circa 2000 BC) illustrate wrestling holds and techniques reminiscent of modern grappling sports.

• Literary Records:

  • The Epic of Gilgamesh (c. 2100 BC) contains descriptions of a wrestling match between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, suggesting not just combat but ritualized sport.

• Cultural Continuity:

  • In ancient Greece, wrestling (called palé) was a central Olympic event from 708 BC, formally structured and widely celebrated; it became a symbol of strength, skill, and intellect.

Because both archaeological and literary records consistently point to wrestling across ancient civilizations, it holds the strongest claim as the first sport in human history.