The Strange Story of the 1904 Olympic Marathon

The 1904 Olympic marathon holds a distinct place in history as the third effort to emulate the legendary run of Pheidippides and the first time the Olympics were held in the United States.

The 1904 Olympics were the first held in the United States, which coincided with the World's Fair in St. Louis and overshadowed the games.

The 1904 Olympic Games took place in St. Louis, coinciding with the Louisiana Purchase Centennial Exhibition, better known as the World's Fair. The grandeur of the World's Fairs during this era often eclipsed other events, and the Olympics were no exception. The 1904 World's Fair featured numerous exhibits, including live indigenous villages from around the world, which garnered much public attention.

James E. Sullivan, as the head of the Department of Physical Culture for the World's Fair, also took on the responsibility of organizing the Olympic Games. However, the inherent competition with the World's Fair for public and media attention, along with St. Louis's status as a less prominent American city at the time, led many American athletes to opt out of participation in the games. As a result, the Olympics were not considered a major event compared to the World's Fair.

The 1904 Olympic marathon was the third marathon event in the modern Olympic games, building on the precedent set in 1896 and 1900.

The endeavor of the Olympic marathon began with its inaugural event in Athens in 1896. In homage to the ancient Greek messenger Pheidippides's legendary run from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce victory over the ...

The marathon at the St. Louis Olympics was marred by a series of ill-considered decisions leading to what is now considered one of the most poorly executed marathon events in history.

The marathon course was designed with numerous issues

The planners of the marathon course failed to account for a suitable running environment, situating a 24-mile course replete with substantial obstacles and health hazards.

Organizers implemented a controversial "purposeful dehydration" policy

There were seven hill climbs ranging from 100 to 300 feet, which presented a significant challenge in themselves. However, the conditions were exacerbated by the dust kicked up by a team of horses, as well as doctors, officials, and journalists that led the race, in addition to the regular cars using the same road. The organizers controversially restricted runners from drinking water, implementing a "purposeful dehydration" policy that allowed runners only one cup of water at a station 12 miles into the race. This policy caused notable problems for competitors such as Sam Mellor, who, suffering from severe dehydration, began to cramp and was rumored to have gotten lost, likely burdened by disorientation from dehydration and exhaustion, which eventually forced him to withdraw from the race.

The start time of the marathon set the stage for disaster

The starting ...

The Olympics marathon of 1904 showcased a remarkable mix of 32 runners with various backgrounds, each bringing their unique story to the grueling race.

The field of 32 runners included a mix of experienced marathoners and amateur athletes from various professions, including a bricklayer, a slaughterhouse worker, and a professional clown.

The 1904 marathon had a diverse group of participants, with professions that ranged far beyond professional athletics. Among the runners were three previous winners of the Boston Marathon, highlighting the competitive edge within the group. Notably, the runner's day jobs contributed to the colorful tapestry of competitors, which included Fred Lors, a bricklayer who had made his name by winning a five-mile race, and Albert Corey, a Frenchman who worked at a slaughterhouse. Another unique entrant was a professional clown, demonstrating that even those with the most unconventional backgrounds could cross into the realm of Olympic competition.

One of the most memorable runners was Felix Carvajal, a Cuban mailman who had walked the length of Cuba multiple times and arrived in St. Louis having not eaten in two days.

Felix Carvajal, a Cuban mailman better known as Andarin, was a standout character among the marathon runners. He was recognized for having walked the entire length of Cuba. Carvajal arrived in St. Louis in dire straits, having not eaten in two days. Famously sporting long sleeves and pants upon his arrival, which were hastily cut off at the knees before the race began, Carvajal was quite the character. He was known for his big personality, engaging with spectators along the course and even playfully stealing peaches. Despite financial challenges and a lack of support from Cuba, resulting in his hitchhiking journey to the event, Carvajal didn't let this dampen his spirits. His job in Cuba allegedly involved running 30 miles a day, showcasing his incredible stamina, which would serve him well in the marathon.

Two indigenous South African runners, Len Teu-Yani and Jan Mashiani, became the first black African athletes to compete in the Olympics, though they were initially brought in as performers for the World's Fai ...

Runners in the race faced insurmountable conditions leading to extreme medical emergencies and dangerous practices to keep them going.

Medical Emergencies and Withdrawals

The race presented exceptionally harsh conditions that forced many participants to withdraw. William Garcia from California was among the runners who suffered severe complications. At mile 19, he started coughing up blood, passed out on the road, and was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. The cause of his medical emergency was attributed to the extreme dust exposure; so much dust and dirt caked his esophagus that it tore his stomach lining.

Dangerous Remedies and Strychnine

Thomas Hicks, a professional clown turned runner, faced the brutal challenge of the race with assistance from his trainers that was controversial. Hicks was nearing the end of a 24-mile journey on only one cup of water when his trainers administered a concoction of strychnine, egg whites, and brandy in an attempt to sustain his endurance. Strychnine, a potent poison, was used in small doses as a stimulant.

By the end of the race, Hicks' condition had deteriorated significantly. He was hallucinating, i ...

The 1904 Olympic marathon was a race filled with odd and amusing incidents that resulted in a high rate of non-finishers and saw the participation of some of the first black African athletes in the Olympics.

Fred Lors took a car ride and almost claimed victory

Fred Lors, a bricklayer participating in the marathon, dramatically withdrew from the race partway through, but reappeared at the stadium's edge near the end. Lors decided to re-enter and pretend he had run the entire course, even nearly receiving the winner's trophy before being disqualified when his ruse was discovered.

Unusual stops along the marathon route

Carvajal, a Cuban mailman also known as a participant in the marathon, hadn't eaten in two days and incredibly took a break to nap in an apple orchard during the race. He also suffered stomach cramps from eating apples but overcame these hurdles to finish in fourth place, displaying a remarkable level of perseverance.

Historic non-finisher rates and groundbreaking athletes

The marathon in question was notorious for having the highest rate of non-finisher ...