The Most Controversial Olympic Marathons in History

In the build up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games marathons (10th and 11th August 2024), here's a quick run down of the most controversial Olympic Marathons in history. It wasn't always such a slick operation:

1. Athens 1896:

The first ever marathon. The marathon event was created by Pierre de Coubertain as a way of linking his modern Olympic Games to the games of ancient Greece. However, there was no long distance event in ancient Greece - just the legend of messenger Phidipeddes (we won't go into the full story here). The 1896 event had just 9 finishers, 8 of which were Greek (Kellner of Hungary claimed bronze). Greece's Spiridon Belokas finished 3rd but was disqualified for taking a carriage part of the way! The host nation's Spiridon Louis won, but there is even some doubt whether or not he actually may have had assistance on route and with a field so sparsely populated, you can see how cheating may have occurred. The Boston Marathon was a legacy event from this first marathon, starting the next year in 1897. 17 started, 10 finished, of which one was disqualified.

2. Paris 1900:

The smallest ever Olympic marathon - only 7 finishers. The first two again were from the host nation. Half of the field DNF'd (did not finish) - maybe due to the 2:30pm start time in the middle of July with 39 degree heat! 14 started, 7 finished.

3. St Louis 1904:

Probably the strangest marathon ever. Also the SLOWEST Olympic Marathon in history! The first across the line was Fred Lorz (USA) in 3:13 but he was subsequently DQ's on the basis that he'd got a lift part of the way. The winner was eventually named as Thomas Hicks (USA) in a time of 3:28:53. For the third Games in a row, the host nation took home two medals. Lorz was banned for life, but re-instated when he apologised for his 'practical joke'. He later went on to win the 1905 Boston Marathon. He entered but did not start at London1908. 32 started, 15 finished, one of which was disqualified.

4. London 1908:

The world's most famous race. This race catapulted marathon running on to the global stage, making stars of its participants. A baking hot day, led many to struggle over the first ever 26.2 mile marathon (earlier marathons were of varying distances). Italian Dorando Pietri (an actor playing Pietri is pictured above at teh Original Marathon VII event) entered the stadium in the lead, went the wrong way, fell 5 times, crossed the line first. But he was helped to his feet by officials and was subsequently disqualified following a complaint by the USA team, who claimed gold and bronze. 55 started, 28 finished, one of which was disqualified.

5. Stockholm 1912:

Stockholm had its fair share of controversy - the marathon distance was 2km shorter than the 1908 marathon (the 26.2 mile distance wouldn't be globally recognised until 1924). The race sadly had the Olympic's first fatality. Portugal's Fransisco Lazaro collapsed during the race and died the following day. Another runner, Japan's Shizo Kanakuri went missing during the race. He dropped out without notifying officials and returned to Japan. 68 started, 36 finished.

6. London 1948:

History almost repeated itself (see London 1908). Etienne Gailly (Belguim) entered the stadium in the lead, he was severely fatigued. Passed by winner Cabrera (Argentina) and silver medallist Tom Richards (GBR), but unlike Pietri, Gailly was able to just hold on for a bronze by just 30 seconds, to the delight of the crowd.

7. LA 1984:

88 years after the first men's marathon, finally women were permitted to compete over the distance at the Olympics. A sad indictment on the Olympic movement that it took so long. Joan Benoit (USA) made history and claimed the first ever women's gold marathon medal.

8. Athens 2004:

Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima (Brazil) was leading the Athens 2004 Olympic marathon when he was attacked on the course by a spectator, Irish former priest Cornelius Horan. Lima fell into 3rd place following the incident. He was later awarded the Pierre de Courbertain medal for his sportsmanship shown in the race.

For non-Olympic qualifying runners - the 8th running of the first ever 26.2 mile marathon route - Windsor Castle to London is 8 March 2025. Original Marathon returns to celebrate this famous route.