innovuscollege.com – The 1904 Olympic Marathon, held in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the strangest and most chaotic events in Olympic history. Not only did it feature extreme conditions and questionable practices, but it also demonstrated the resilience—and sometimes the absurdity—of its competitors. While today’s marathons are tightly regulated, the 1904 race would set a bizarre precedent for what can happen when a major international competition is poorly organized, and its athletes are subjected to truly unusual challenges.
The Setting: St. Louis World’s Fair
The marathon was part of the 1904 Summer Olympics, which were being held in conjunction with the St. Louis World’s Fair (now known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition). This pairing made the Olympics secondary to the larger event, which was focused on showcasing the progress and industrial advancements of the United States. The Games were meant to be a celebration of American achievements, but the marathon race instead highlighted the chaos and disorganization that could occur when an event is placed at the mercy of logistical oversight.
The Race Course
The marathon was set to take place on an unusually grueling 24.85-mile (39.96 km) course that wound through the streets of St. Louis. The route was far from ideal, taking runners through dusty, unpaved roads, and many of the paths were poorly marked. To make matters worse, several sections of the route were lined with uneven cobblestones, creating additional challenges for the athletes.
The race began at the fairgrounds and wound through a mixture of dirt roads, packed roads, and rough terrain. For athletes accustomed to relatively smooth surfaces, the uneven nature of the course, combined with intense heat, would prove a daunting test.
The Heat and Humidity
One of the most critical factors in the 1904 marathon was the suffocating heat and humidity. The race took place in the middle of the day, under the sweltering Missouri sun, with temperatures exceeding 90°F (32°C). To make matters worse, there were no provisions for hydration beyond a few sporadic water stations. Many of the runners struggled with heat exhaustion and dehydration.
The combination of heat, humidity, and an unrelenting course took a severe toll on the participants, contributing to the race’s bizarre and sometimes tragic outcome.
The Participants and Their Unusual Experiences
The field of runners was a mix of international athletes, professional and amateur, who were not all prepared for the extreme conditions they would face. There were 32 entrants from around the world, but many were unprepared for the challenge, and some were forced to drop out due to exhaustion, dehydration, or injury. The race featured several participants who had some rather unusual and sometimes comical experiences during the race.
- Fred Lorz – The “Fake” Winner
Fred Lorz, an American runner, was originally declared the winner of the marathon, but his victory was marred by a shocking incident of cheating. Lorz had become exhausted during the race, and at one point, he hopped into a car driven by a friend to rest for several miles. After being driven around for a while, he got back out and rejoined the race near the finish line. After crossing the line first, Lorz was congratulated as the winner.
However, his deception was quickly uncovered, and Lorz was disqualified. Incredibly, this wasn’t the end of his involvement in the race. He was later reinstated into the race after it was revealed that he had genuinely run part of the race, albeit with some questionable methods. Lorz was eventually banned from competitive racing for the incident, but it remains one of the more humorous, albeit embarrassing, moments in Olympic history.
- The Case of the “Poisoned” Athletes
One of the most shocking moments in the race involved American runner Thomas Hicks. After struggling with the intense heat and exhaustion, Hicks had been given a mixture of strychnine (a powerful poison) and brandy to help stimulate him and keep him moving. The “treatment” was common for athletes at the time but had dangerous side effects.
As Hicks staggered toward the finish line, he was in a semi-delirious state due to the effects of the poison. His trainers followed him closely, ensuring that he continued to run and did not collapse. In the final stretch, Hicks collapsed but was revived and carried across the line by his trainers. Miraculously, he won the race—albeit in a weakened state—but his victory was not without controversy, as it was clear that his use of strychnine had put him at great risk.
- The “Running” of the Dogs
Another strange aspect of the race involved the actions of stray dogs, which had been wandering the course. The dogs were drawn to the runners, and at one point, a group of dogs chased the runners for several miles. While this might sound like an amusing side note, the presence of the dogs added yet another challenge for the runners already battling heat exhaustion and a poorly marked course.
- The African Runner, Felix Carvajal
One of the most memorable figures of the 1904 marathon was Felix Carvajal, a Cuban postman who had no proper running shoes and wore street clothes to the race. After arriving in St. Louis, Carvajal had lost all of his money and had to run the marathon without the proper equipment. He ran in his long-sleeve shirt and trousers and barefoot, which would have been unthinkable by modern standards. Despite these obstacles, Carvajal was one of the few athletes who completed the race, finishing in fourth place after a series of strange events, including an encounter with the stray dogs.
- The No-Show Foreign Athletes
The 1904 marathon also suffered from the disqualification or absence of several international athletes. Many of the athletes from abroad, including runners from Mexico and Greece, were not properly prepared for the intense conditions. Some athletes were even disqualified after suffering heat-related illnesses or were forced to drop out. One notable absentee was the Greek runner who was highly favored to win but never showed up due to travel issues.
The Aftermath: A Victory But At What Cost?
In the end, only 14 of the 32 competitors finished the race, making the 1904 Olympic marathon one of the most poorly attended events in Olympic history. The heat, lack of proper hydration, the disqualifications, and the various bizarre incidents all contributed to the race being remembered not for its athleticism, but for its many strange and unsettling events.
Thomas Hicks, the victor, barely survived the race, and his victory was overshadowed by the controversy over the use of strychnine. The marathon’s lack of proper preparation led to its inclusion in the annals of strange Olympic events, but it also spurred reform in future competitions. Olympic organizers took serious note of the health risks and the importance of athlete preparation, and the marathon would go on to be run under much safer conditions in future years.
Conclusion
The 1904 Olympic Marathon in St. Louis is a stark reminder of how far the Olympic Games have come in terms of organization, fairness, and athlete care. What began as a major sporting event with a bizarre mix of challenges and misadventures ultimately became one of the more memorable moments in Olympic history. The race is an example of how, even in the early years of the modern Olympic movement, sport could be a chaotic, unpredictable affair—one that was as full of humor and misfortune as it was of endurance and heroism.
