Sandpoint Waldorf students compete in original pentathlon

SANDPOINT — Pentathlon is a Greek word meaning “five competitions,” and it was considered the premier event in the ancient Greek Olympics. While the modern pentathlon is completely different, 12 students from the Sandpoint Waldorf School recently competed in an Olympiad in Portland, remaining true to the origins of the ancient competition.

The 5th grade class from Sandpoint was one of six regional Waldorf schools sending students to the weekend event, where they were intermixed to form city-states, enabling each to make many new friends.

Each team competed in the javelin, discus, standing long jump, Greek wrestling and a relay race — the five components of the original pentathlon. The focus was on demonstrating grace and control, working as a team and having a fun time.

The students wore togas akin to what was worn in the Olympics in Athens.

The Sandpoint students didn’t lose once in the wrestling portion, oddly coincidental when considering the rich tradition of wrestling in Sandpoint. Each student would lock hands in the center of a circle before using leverage and strength to push the other outside.

At the end of the two-day event, each city-state team shared stories from the event, and each Waldorf school performed excerpts from the various plays they are currently performing.

“It really brought them together socially, meeting new friends,” said Michael Pinchera, the Sandpoint 5th grade teacher and coach of the students. “Each child rose up to the highest of ability.”