The Most Ridiculous Olympic Marathon in History

In 1904, one Olympic runner rode in a car, another reportedly stopped for a nap, and the gold medalist was given a poisonous stimulant. This might have been the strangest marathon ever run.

On August 30, 1904, thirty-two runners lined up in St. Louis, Missouri, for an Olympic marathon unlike anything the Games had seen before.

By the time it ended, one competitor had been disqualified for riding in an automobile, another had reportedly fallen asleep beside the course, and the official winner had nearly collapsed after receiving doses of strychnine and brandy.

Only fourteen runners officially finished.

And somehow, the story gets stranger.

A Race Designed for Disaster

The 1904 Olympics were held alongside the St. Louis World's Fair, an enormous international exhibition celebrating the Louisiana Purchase.

The marathon was scheduled for the afternoon, when temperatures reached approximately 90°F (32°C).

The course covered 24.85 miles, slightly shorter than today's standard 26.2-mile marathon. It wound through steep hills, dusty country roads, and ordinary traffic.

Automobiles carrying race officials and coaches drove alongside competitors, throwing clouds of dust into their faces.

Even worse, there was only one official source of drinking water along the course, approximately twelve miles from the start.

The chief organizer, James Sullivan, was interested in studying the effects of limited water intake during physical exertion.

The runners were effectively participating in a dangerous experiment.

The Man Who Took a Car to the Finish Line

Fred Lorz, an American runner, started strongly but developed cramps around the nine-mile mark.

Rather than continue running, he accepted a ride in an automobile.

For approximately eleven miles, Lorz traveled along the course in the vehicle, passing competitors who were still struggling through the heat and dust.

Eventually, he got out and resumed running.

When Lorz entered the Olympic stadium, spectators celebrated what appeared to be a remarkable victory.

But officials soon discovered what had happened.

Lorz was disqualified. He claimed the entire incident had been a joke.

Remarkably, his suspension was later lifted, and he won the Boston Marathon in 1905—without the assistance of an automobile.

The Cuban Runner Who Reportedly Took a Nap

Félix Carvajal had traveled from Cuba to compete in the marathon.

He reportedly raised money for the journey through running exhibitions, only to lose his funds gambling in New Orleans.

He eventually reached St. Louis wearing street shoes, long trousers, and a long-sleeved shirt rather than conventional racing clothing.

According to historical accounts, another athlete helped him by cutting his trousers shorter.

During the marathon, Carvajal reportedly stopped to speak with spectators and helped himself to fruit along the course.

One popular account describes him eating apples that caused stomach cramps, then lying down for a nap.

The precise details of these episodes are difficult to independently establish, but Carvajal's final result is documented.

Despite his unconventional preparation and reported interruptions, he finished fourth.

The Winner Was Given Rat Poison

While Lorz was traveling by automobile and Carvajal was making his unusual journey through the race, American runner Thomas Hicks was fighting to stay conscious.

Hicks was severely dehydrated and physically exhausted.

His support team administered strychnine, a highly toxic substance that was sometimes used in small quantities as a stimulant.

They mixed it with egg whites.

Later in the race, Hicks received another dose, along with brandy.

At the time, the Olympics had no modern anti-doping regulations prohibiting such treatment.

But the danger was real.

Hicks became increasingly weak, his movements slowed, and accounts describe him struggling to remain upright.

As he approached the finish, attendants helped him forward.

He was declared the Olympic champion with a time of 3 hours, 28 minutes, and 53 seconds.

Four doctors reportedly attended to him afterward.

The official winner had survived a race that nearly killed him.

Two African Runners History Nearly Forgot

Among the competitors were Len Taunyane, also known as Len Tau, and Jan Mashiani, two Tswana men from southern Africa.

They were in St. Louis as part of the World's Fair, where people from colonized societies were displayed in exhibitions shaped by the racist attitudes of the period.

Both men had experience as dispatch runners during the Second Boer War.

They also participated in the fair's notorious Anthropology Days, competitions staged around racist assumptions about human ability.

Their participation in the Olympic marathon was historically significant: they became the first Black African athletes to compete in the modern Olympic Games.

During the marathon, historical accounts describe a dog chasing Taunyane off the course, costing him valuable distance and time.

Despite the conditions, Taunyane finished ninth.

Mashiani finished twelfth.

Their achievements deserve recognition not merely as unusual details of an extraordinary race, but as important moments in Olympic history.

The Marathon That Almost Ended the Marathon

The final results were astonishing.

Thomas Hicks won gold after receiving strychnine and brandy.

Fred Lorz was disqualified after traveling much of the course