17 Strange Things That Happened During the 1904 Olympic Games
The Olympic Games have always been a showcase of human athletic achievement, competition, and international cooperation. However, the 1904 Olympics held in St. Louis, Missouri, stand out as perhaps the most chaotic, poorly organized, and downright bizarre Games in Olympic history.
These Games coincided with the St. Louis World’s Fair, which overshadowed the sporting events and created a carnival-like atmosphere unlike any Olympics before or since. Here is a list of 17 strange things that happened during the 1904 Olympic Games that demonstrate why these Olympics remain an unusual footnote in sports history
The Games Lasted Five Months
Unlike modern Olympics that span just over two weeks, the 1904 Games dragged on for nearly five months. The events were scattered from July 1 to November 23, 1904, making it difficult for athletes to maintain peak performance.
Many competitions felt more like sideshows at the World’s Fair rather than prestigious international sporting events.
Only 12 Countries Participated
International participation was abysmal, with just 12 countries sending athletes to St. Louis. European nations largely stayed away due to the costly and time-consuming travel across the Atlantic.
Of the 650 athletes competing, 580 were Americans, turning many events into de facto American national championships rather than international competitions.
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The Marathon Runner Who Barely Trained
American runner Fred Lorz appeared to win the marathon but was later disqualified for hitching a ride in a car for 11 miles. Lorz had dropped out due to exhaustion, caught a lift, and then decided to run the final stretch into the stadium as a joke.
When officials began to place the gold medal around his neck, someone called out that he had cheated, leading to his immediate disqualification.
The Actual Winner Nearly Died
The true marathon winner, Thomas Hicks, was carried across the finish line delirious and barely conscious. His trainers had given him a mixture of strychnine (rat poison) and brandy during the race, believing it would boost his stamina.
This dangerous concoction nearly killed him, and medical attendants worked for hours to revive him after his victory.
Dusty Roads Made Athletes Ill
The marathon course followed unpaved roads that kicked up clouds of dust, causing many runners to become ill or develop severe coughing fits. Automobiles and horses preceded the runners, making the dust clouds even worse.
Several participants later required medical treatment for respiratory problems caused by these harsh conditions.
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Water Was Intentionally Limited
In a misguided attempt to study the effects of dehydration, marathon organizers provided only one water station along the entire 26-mile course. This dangerous experiment occurred during the sweltering St. Louis summer heat, with temperatures reaching 90°F.
Modern marathons feature hydration stations approximately every mile, making the 1904 approach seem like deliberate torture by today’s standards.
‘Anthropology Days’ Featured Racial Exhibitions
Perhaps the most shameful aspect of the 1904 Games was the organization of ‘Anthropology Days,’ where indigenous people from various cultures were recruited from World’s Fair exhibits to compete in Olympic events. These individuals were given no training and were essentially put on display as curiosities rather than respected as athletes, reflecting the era’s problematic racial attitudes.
The Cuban Postman Competed in Street Clothes
Cuban marathon runner Félix Carvajal arrived in St. Louis after losing his money gambling in New Orleans. He ran the marathon in long trousers and street shoes, stopping to chat with spectators and plucking apples from an orchard to eat during the race.
Despite these distractions and his inappropriate attire, he managed to finish fourth.
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One Competitor Swam Upstream in Raw Sewage
Swimming events were held in an artificial lake that contained the drainage from nearby livestock exhibits at the Fair. Some contestants had to swim against the current while dodging debris and contaminants.
American James Battersby later described swimming through ‘something disturbing’ during his race, a diplomatic way of describing the unsanitary conditions.
Gymnasts Competed on Improvised Equipment
The gymnastics competitions featured equipment hastily assembled from whatever materials were available at the Fair. Uneven bars were unstable, balance beams were of inconsistent heights, and landing areas lacked proper padding.
Several athletes suffered injuries due to these substandard conditions that would never be permitted in modern competition.
A One-Legged Gymnast Won Gold
American gymnast George Eyser competed with a wooden leg, having lost his real one years earlier in a train accident. Despite this significant disadvantage, he won six medals, including three gold.
His achievement stands as one of the most remarkable performances in Olympic history and remained largely unmatched by para-athletes until the modern Paralympic movement.
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The First African-American Olympic Medalists Were Forgotten
Two African-American athletes, Joseph Stadler and John Baxter Taylor, became the first Black competitors to win Olympic medals. Stadler won silver in the standing high jump, while Taylor earned gold as part of a relay team.
Their groundbreaking achievements received little recognition at the time and have been largely overlooked in Olympic history.
Tug-of-War Was Considered a Prestigious Event
The tug-of-war competition was regarded as one of the Games’ premier events, with Milwaukee Athletic Club winning gold. Teams consisted of similar athletic clubs rather than national teams, further blurring the line between Olympic competition and local sporting events.
The Milwaukee team’s victory celebration reportedly lasted several days and caused significant property damage at their hotel.
Boxing Made Its Olympic Debut Without Headgear
Boxing had its Olympic debut at the 1904 Games, where athletes fought without wearing protective headgear. One newspaper referred to the matches as “barbaric displays of punishment,” and all of the medals were won by Americans.
A number of boxers sustained facial injuries and concussions that would be considered violations of contemporary safety regulations.
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The Games Lost Money and Reputation
The Olympic competitions were so poorly attended that they created a significant financial loss for organizers. Most St. Louis residents preferred other World’s Fair attractions to the sporting events.
The financial failure nearly ended the modern Olympic movement, with founder Pierre de Coubertin later calling the 1904 Games ‘a joke’ and ‘an embarrassment to the Olympic ideal.’
Some Events Had Only American Competitors
Since only Americans competed in a number of events, these were effectively national championships with Olympic medals. Five participants from the same New York athletic club competed in the men’s steeplechase.
The legitimacy of the Games was questioned, and the importance of several medals was lessened by the absence of international competition.
IOC President Refused to Attend
Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics and International Olympic Committee president, boycotted the St. Louis Games in protest of their being moved from Chicago. He had strongly opposed relocating the Games to coincide with the World’s Fair, predicting correctly that the Olympics would be reduced to a sideshow.
His absence marked the only time an IOC president has skipped the Games during his tenure.
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A Turning Point for Olympic Standards
The chaos and controversy of the 1904 St. Louis Olympics ultimately strengthened the Olympic movement by demonstrating what the Games should not be. The IOC implemented stricter organizational requirements, competitor standards, and event protocols for future Olympics.
The embarrassment of St. Louis led directly to the much more successful 1908 London Games, establishing patterns of excellence and international cooperation that continue in the Olympic tradition today.
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