Wrestling was part of the Ancient Olympic Games in Greece, making it one of the oldest competitive sports — if not the oldest sport — in the world. When the modern Olympic Games started in 1896, wrestling was featured on the program. It has been contested at every Olympics since then, with the exception of the 1900 Games.

Wrestling was the first competition to be added to the Olympic Games that was not a footrace. It was added in 708 B.C. (Miller, 46). The competitions were held in elimination-tournament style until one wrestler was crowned the victor. The wrestling area was one square plethron or stremma. This event was also part of the pentathlon.

pankration, ancient Greek sports event that combined boxing and wrestling, introduced at the XXXIII Olympiad (648 bce). Simple fisticuffs had been introduced in 688 bce. It was particularly popular among Spartans. Contests were savage, with hitting, kicking, twisting of limbs, strangling, and struggling on the ground allowed.