The adult games started with the 184-meter sprint. It was the most prestigious of the events. The winner gave his name to the four year Olympiad. This was followed by the long distance of 20 or 24 lengths.

The third track even was the hippos. It was a middle distance race of six length. It was called the hippos, horse race, because it was the same distance as run by horses.

The athletes performed naked. There were four heats for each event. The winners of the finals received amphorae of expensive olive oil produced in the Academy. It could be exported free of duty, and was expected to be sold. The oil was contained in special decorated containers called Panathenaic amphorae.