Pythagoras of Samos

Pythagoras of Samos (Greek: Πυθαγόρας ο Σάμιος), as a youth, won the men's boxing event at the ancient Olympic Games.

During the 48th Olympiad, Pythagoras of Samos was excluded from the boys' boxing contest and was mocked for being effeminate, but he went on to the men's contest and defeated all his opponents.

Eratosthenes wrote that Pythagoras introduced new martial arts techniques into boxing, which allowed him to win despite his youth and long hair. He wrote that Pythagoras was "the first to box using technique, in the 48th Olympiad, letting his hair grow long and wearing a purple robe; after being excluded from the boys' games and jeered at, he immediately joined the men's, and won."