The 1904 Olympic Marathon

This is widely considered the most chaotic sporting event in human history. It took place in St. Louis during a massive heatwave on a dusty dirt road.

• The Winner (Technically)

1:00 PM

Fred Lorz stopped running after 9 miles because of cramps, hitched a ride in a car for 11 miles, and then jogged across the finish line. He was disqualified after the car’s driver blew his cover.

• The Actual Winner

3:00 PM

Thomas Hicks won, but only because his trainers were feeding him strychnine (rat poison) and brandy as a “stimulant.” He hallucinated most of the race and had to be carried over the finish line.

• The Cuban Mailman

3:30 PM

Andarin Carvajal raised money to travel to the race, lost it all gambling in New Orleans, ran in heavy boots and long pants, stopped to eat some rotten apples, got a stomach ache, took a nap, and still finished 4th.

• The Stray Dogs

4:00 PM

Len Taunyane, one of the first South African Olympians, finished 9th despite being chased a mile off course by a pack of aggressive stray dogs.

➤ Up Next: The Great Emu War of 1932