Women had their own games called Heraia. Victors at the Olympics and the Heraia won the same prize: an olive branch wreath from the sacred olive tree. Kyniska celebrated an Olympic victory after ...

(Kevin Light Photography) A long, long time ago, Olympic athletes received olive wreaths. As time passed and the Olympics were modernized, the olive wreaths were replaced by bouquets of flowers.

The five-ring symbol on Johnson's back is encased in the traditional Olympic olive leaf wreath, which is often a feature of the Olympic Games. Despite the elaborate imagery, Charles Johnson has ...