In 1904, the U.S. hosted its first Olympics. It had a host of problems. But the event that was the most dangerous for athletes was the marathon.
Sep 2
Percy Fawcett, Manuscript 512, and a Lost City in the Amazon, Pt. 2
The second part of Percy Fawcett's story delves into his fascination with a document known as Manuscript 512 and how it impacted his life. His obsession led to his disappearance; there has been endless speculation about what exactly happened. Research: Biello, David. “Ancient Ama ... Show More
37m 11s
Jun 2024
Famous Dumpster Fires in History: The 1904 Olympic Marathon
<p>The 1904 St. Louis Olympics featured the strangest sporting event in history. During the marathon, runners paused for naps, got chased by dogs, went apple picking, and doped with rat poison — all while being unwitting participants in a cruel scientific experiment.</p> <p>*</p> ... Show More
40m 33s
Aug 2024
The Strange Story of the 1904 Olympic Marathon
The Olympic marathon of 1904 is an incredible story filled with wacky characters, cheating, heat and humidity, dust and dirt, and oh yeah, a few actual qualified athletes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
40m 10s
Aug 2021
The Fight for the First U.S. Olympics | Passing the Torch | 4
The 1904 St. Louis Olympics were marred by controversy and poorly organized events like the marathon. But at least they took place as scheduled. In 1916, after the outbreak of World War I, they were canceled entirely. A century later, in 2020, the Olympics faced another kind of t ... Show More
38m 44s
Jan 2025
CLASSIC: The 1904 Racist Summer Olympic Games in St. Louis
A few years after Baron Pierre de Coubertin revived the ancient sporting event known as the Olympics, he brought the games to the U.S. for the first time. The 1904 Summer Olympics were held in St. Louis, Missouri, coinciding with the 1904 World's Fair. Seems set to make history, ... Show More
33m 34s
Aug 2022
The 1904 St. Louis Marathon Was Absolutely Bonkers
It's no secret that the Olympics have evolved over time, and met with their fair share of controversy over the years -- but the 1904 Olympic marathon remains a tale of ridiculousness for the ages. In today's episode, Ben and Max dive into a madcap series of bizarre events, brazen ... Show More
59m 24s
Jul 2024
The Infamous 1904 Olympics
From Typhoid to wild dogs, and alongside the events of the World's Fair… It’s the OLYMPICS! This week, your elegant hosts, Markiplier and Tyler Scheid, take you on a journey through the events of the disastrous 1904 Olympics. Cut your pants into shorts, hitchhike to St Louis, and ... Show More
51m 12s
Jul 2021
The Fight for the First U.S. Olympics | Let the Games Begin | 2
In 1904, St. Louis was thrust into the national spotlight, as it played host to both the World’s Fair and America’s first Olympic Games. After a bitter fight over which American city would host, Olympic founder Pierre De Coubertin had disavowed the St. Louis games entirely, passi ... Show More
35m 50s
Jul 2024
74: Human Experiments, Trafficked Athletes, and Poisoned Runners: America's First Olympics // Dark Summer Series
The 1904 Olympic Games were considered to be the darkest games in history. A mad scientist was able to run experiments on athletes while the games went on, runners were given poison to enhance their performance, and people were stolen from all over the world and forced to compete ... Show More
35m 21s
Jul 2021
The Fight for the First U.S. Olympics | A Tale of Two Cities | 1
In the late 1800s, European fascination with the culture of ancient Greece, and a growing interest in physical education and fitness, led to the idea of resurrecting the Olympic Games of antiquity. A French nobleman named Pierre de Coubertin took up the cause, and under his leade ... Show More
37m 36s