Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's marathon

Infobox Olympic event
event = Men's marathon
games = 1908 Summer


caption = Dorando Pietri finishes the marathon
venue = London
dates = July 24
competitors = 27
nations = 11
gold = Johnny Hayes
goldNOC = USA
silver = Charles Hefferon
silverNOC = RSA
bronze = Joseph Forshaw
bronzeNOC = USA
prev=1904
next=1912

The men's marathon race was held at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The race was held on July 24, 1908.

The distance was the now-standard length of 26 miles, 385 yards (42.263 km). 75 competitors entered. 55 runners from 16 nations began the race, with 27 athletes (representing 11 nations) finishing.

The most famous incident of the Games came at the end of the event. It occurred when the first runner to enter the stadium, Dorando Pietri of Italy, collapsed several times and ran the wrong way. Not far from the finish-line, two of the officials took him by the arms, and brought him to the line. As a consequence, after crossing the line he was disqualified. The medal went to American Johnny Hayes who was second over the line, but the glory went to Pietri. Since he himself had not been responsible for his disqualification Queen Alexandra the next day awarded him a gold cup in recognition of his achievement.

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in hours) prior to the 1908 Summer Olympics.

"(*)" distance 40.0 km

"(**)" distance 41.86 km

Johnny Hayes set a new Olympic record with 2'55:18.4 hours.

Results

27 runners finished the marathon legally, though Dorando Pietri's (disqualified) performance was perhaps the most applauded; his finishing time was 2'54:46.4 hours, half a minute ahead of the winner.

Notes

ources

* Official Report of the Games of the IV Olympiad (1908).
* De Wael, Herman. "Herman's Full Olympians": "Athletics 1908". Accessed 30 March 2006. Available electronically at [http://users.skynet.be/hermandw/olymp/ath1908.html ] .