The 1904 Olympic Marathon Was Won by a Runner Given Rat Poison and Brandy
The 1904 St. Louis marathon became the most chaotic race in Olympic history, featuring dusty roads, one water stop, and coaches dosing Thomas Hicks with strychnine.
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Smithsonian Magazine
Key Metric+20 XP
In what year was the chaotic St. Louis Olympic marathon held?
Your guess:0 years
Key Insight
In the early 1900s, small doses of strychnine were mistakenly used as a nervous-system stimulant despite severe toxicity.
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🏛️ History
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Why / How?
01
Historical Mechanism
At the time, small doses of strychnine were used as a crude stimulant. Hicks nearly collapsed across the finish line, yet still claimed the gold medal.
02
Context & Impact
In the early 1900s, small doses of strychnine were mistakenly used as a nervous-system stimulant despite severe toxicity.
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Smithsonian Magazine