logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2023
39m 32s

1904 Olympic Marathon

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

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.

Research:

  • Abbott, Karen. “The 1904 Olympic Marathon May Have Been the Strangest Ever.” Smithsonian. Aug. 7, 2012. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-1904-olympic-marathon-may-have-been-the-strangest-ever-14910747/
  • “Amateur Athletic Union Suspends Member for Life.” The Brunswick News. Sept. 4, 1904. https://www.newspapers.com/image/897913415/?terms=%22fred%20lorz%22%20&match=1
  • Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Russo-Japanese War". Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 May. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/event/Russo-Japanese-War
  • Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "St. Louis 1904 Olympic Games". Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Jun. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/event/St-Louis-1904-Olympic-Games
  • “Cuban Marathon Runner Carvajal Comes to Life.” The Evening World. April 11, 1907. https://www.newspapers.com/image/85305956/
  • “Felix Carvajal.” Olympics.com. https://olympics.com/en/athletes/felix-carvajal
  • Lawrence, Andrew. “Think the Tokyo Olympics are a bad idea? St Louis 1904 set the bar high.” The Guardian. July 13, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/13/st-louis-olympics-1904-tokyo-flawed-games
  • Longman, Jerry. “The Marathon’s Random Route to Its Length.” New York Times. April 20, 2012. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/21/sports/the-marathons-accidental-route-to-26-miles-385-yards.html?_r=0
  • Lucas, Charles J. P. “The Olympic Games 1904.” Woodward & Tiernan. 1905. Accessed online: https://library.olympics.com/Default/doc/SYRACUSE/29697/the-olympic-games-1904-by-charles-j-p-lucas?_lg=en-GB
  • “Olympic Games at St. Louis.” Weekly Democrat-News. Feb. 28, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/954304418/?terms=olympic&match=1
  • Rodrigues, Ashwin. “The Unbelievable True Story of the Craziest Olympic Marathon.” Runners World. Aug. 6, 2021. https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a37039437/1904-olympic-marathon/
  • “William Garcia.” Olympics.com. https://olympics.com/en/athletes/william-garcia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Aug 23
SYMHC Classics: Eunice Newton Foote
This 2021 episode covers Eunice Newton Foote, who became the first person to make a connection between the Earth’s temperature and the concentration of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere in 1856. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
39m 8s
Aug 22
Behind the Scenes Minis: Estevan and Fury
Tracy discusses the concept of race as it has and hasn't existed in European history. Both Tracy and Holly share their frustration and fury about the Buck v. Bell story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
22m 50s
Aug 20
Buck v. Bell
Buck v. Bell is the 1927 SCOTUS decision that upheld the constitutionality of laws allowing involuntary sterilization of people deemed to be “unfit.” Most of these laws have been repealed, but Buck v. Bell has never been directly overturned. Research: "Buck v. Bell." Gale Encyclo ... Show More
43m 55s
Recommended Episodes
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
Aug 2021
The Olympic Games
The Olympic Games  Join us today as we learn about how the Olympic Games, which are held every four years, got their start and have changed over the years. Sources:  https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games/Munich-West-Germany-1972 https://www.history.com/this-day-in-histo ... Show More
6m 50s
Jul 2021
Olympics: Behind The Five Rings
The Olympics originated in Ancient Greece, and were resurrected in the 1890's after a 1,500 year ban. Since then, the International Olympic Committee has been behind every Olympic Games. In this episode, we explore the story of how the IOC turned the Olympics into a huge commerci ... Show More
41m 55s
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
Dec 2022
The Olympics Used to Have an... Extraordinarily Weird Art Competition
Everyone's heard of the Olympics. This global competition brings athletes from around the world together to compete in various sports -- but, not too long ago, one man led the charge to bring artists, sculptors, musicians and more into the fray, with medal-worthy competitions of ... Show More
40m 29s
Jul 2021
The U.S. Athletes To Follow At The Tokyo Olympics
At every Olympic Games, there are thousands of stories. This year, Simone Manuel looks to solidify her legacy as the greatest gymnast of all time. Katie Ledecky could become the most decorated female athlete in Olympic history. And Trayvon Bromell aims to claim the title of 'worl ... Show More
14m 16s
Jul 2020
#648 The future of the Olympic games
The first modern Olympics were held in 1896 but their traditions date back to the 8th century BC. It is an iconic event littered with tradition, hard work, records and emotions. Could that all be able to change as there are whispers of video games being included in future Olympic ... Show More
37m 36s
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
Feb 2022
Apolo Ohno & Lisa Leslie: How to Be An Olympian
At their best, the Olympics symbolize our world’s potential for cooperation, honoring the common humanity that unites us across old divisions of gender, race, and geographical borders. With the 2022 Winter Olympics having drawn to a close, President Clinton sits down with two ico ... Show More
56m 10s
Mar 2021
Olympic Dreams Postponed
Almost a year ago, athletes around the world learned that the Olympics would be postponed. For those who hoped to compete in the games, navigating this additional year has been incredibly challenging, especially as Covid restrictions forced many professional sports facilities to ... Show More
13m 28s