Kallipateira (Gr. Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Καλλιπάτειρα) of Ialysos in Rhodes (l. c. 388 BCE), was an Ancient Greek athlete trainer. She came from a renowned family of athletes in Ancient Greece. She was caught attending the ancient Olympic Games disguised as a male trainer in 388 BCE.[1] Her capture led to a law being introduced that trainers should strip before entering the stadium.
Kallipateira was a granddaughter of Damagetos, king of Ialysos. Her father, Diagoras of Rhodes, was a celebrated boxer and Olympic victor.[2] Diagoras won the boxing at several Panhellenic games and was honoured by Pindar.[3] Her brothers were also Panhellenic champions: Damagetos won pankration events and Akousilaos won in boxing. Her younger brother Dorieus was the most successful, winning the pankration at 21 different Panhellenic games.[4]
Kallipateira was a widow at the time of her arrest at Olympia, which she was attending in support of her own son Peisirodos.
Pausanias records the story of how she was caught:
Her story features in a sonnet of the modern Greek poet Lorentzos Mavilis.[5]