æθlˈɛɾɪks wʌz ɪn ɐ wˈeɪ ɐ mˈɛθəd tə pɹɪzˈɜːv ænd hˈaɪlaɪt ðə vɪɹˈɪlᵻɾi ʌv ɡɹˈiːk ˈɑːnɚɹ ɪn ɐ fˈɪzɪkəl wˈeɪ, dˈɛmənstɹˌeɪɾᵻd θɹuː fˈiːts ʌv spɛktˈækjʊlɚ stɹˈɛŋθs ænd fɪnˈɛs, jˈuːʒuːəli nˈeɪkᵻd ɪn ˈɔːɹdɚ tə mˌeɪk ɐ stˈeɪtmənt ɐbˌaʊt kəmpˈɛɹɪŋ fˈɪt ɡɹˈiːk bˈɑːdiz tʊ ˈʌðɚz.
Athletics was in a way a method to preserve and highlight the virility of Greek honor in a physical way, demonstrated through feats of spectacular strengths and finesse, usually naked in order to make a statement about comparing fit Greek bodies to others.