DECEPTION: The Worst Race Ever Run: The Olympic Marathon of 1904

About this episode

The episode explores the chaotic and bizarre events of the 1904 Olympic Marathon.

The Olympic Marathon at the 1904 St. Louis Games was supposed to be a showcase of human endurance. Instead, it became one of the strangest, most chaotic sporting events in recorded history. Competitors ran in ninety-degree heat through clouds of dust kicked up by the officials' cars. One runner was chased off course by a dog. Another was unknowingly given strychnine by his coach. The first man to cross the finish line was disqualified. A man who had stopped to eat apples in an orchard nearly won. We unpack the glorious disaster of a race that tells you everything about the early Olympics — and almost nothing about athletic achievement. Head over to our Crimes Of… YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/@crimehousestudios If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Crimes Of… to never miss a case! For Ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Crimes Of… is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Serial Killers & Murderous Minds, Crime House 24/7, Murder True Crime Stories, and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow us on…

People in this episode

Hosts: Sabrina Deana-Roga, Corinne Vien

Topics covered

• Olympics
• marathon
• sports history
• chaotic events
• human endurance

Keywords

• Olympic Marathon
• 1904
• St. Louis Games
• athletic achievement
• sports chaos

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Crime House, PAVE Studios, YouTube

Places: St. Louis

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