Timo and the Olympics

For our school we are going to have times where the children learn about public speaking and presentations. So, I have been having the children each write a story of a child or young person that is in or around the ancient greek olympic games. It has been so fun to see how each child has created their story. They are finalizing their stories and then will practice presenting it with expression. Then, sometime soon we will have a presentation night where they will share their stories. Here is W's story...

Once there was a city in Greece and it was called Sparta, in which the Spartans lived. It was the first day of the Olympics! But there was a house that was not very rich and in that house was a boy that had wanted to be an olympic boxer all his life. So finally, his dream came true.

When he went to the market place each day he would jump over wells and would punch solid steel, just so that he could feel what it would be like to be a boxer. Little did he know that the people were watching him. Some of the people were watching him, so some of them went to the King and said “Great King, we have seen this boy and he is not any ordinary boy. He can punch solid steel and jump over the long wells.” The King said, “Bring him to me.”

SoTimo was brought to the king, and the king granted him his freedom. He was going to the Olympics!

Finally, the first day of the Olympics arrived. Behind the stage, Timo and his opponents awaited the fight. While they waited, they wound soft leather around their hands (they did not have boxing gloves). At last, the announcer said, “Fighters please present yourselves!” Timo and the other boxers came out single file and stood straight. The trainers had instructed them how you are to box and what the rules are.

As Timo stood straight, he tried to look calm, but he really felt like his heart was beating a thousand miles an hour. Finally, the instructor yelled, “Start boxing!” So there was no turning back.

Timo chose to box a person named Alexander. He drew back his fist and punched him so hard that it knocked Alex’s head off. The crown cheered! The first guy was down and there was still four more to go. Next, he chose a guy named Odysseus. Odysseus was a lot more tough then Alex. Before Timo could punch him, Odysseus punched Timo. Itwas so hard that everything that Timo saw was blurry for a moment. Then when he recovered he saw all the other boxers on the ground, knocked out cold, including Odysseus. He looked up to see another boxer that Timo had made friends with. That friend had immobilized all the other boxers. Achilles, for that was his name, winked at Timo. So, Timo knew what that meant. Achilles wanted Timo to win. Timo pretended to punch him really hard, butit would not have been enough to win. Achilles fell over and chose to not get up. The crowd went wild! Timo had won the Olympics!