The 1904 Olympic marathon in St. Louis produced one of sports history’s strangest scandals. American runner Fred Lorz stopped after roughly nine miles because of cramps, climbed into an automobile, and rode about 11 miles. When the car broke down, he returned to the course, ran to the stadium, and crossed the finish line first.
A Shortcut That Fooled the Crowd
Spectators cheered Lorz as the apparent champion, but officials soon exposed the ride. Lorz claimed the finish was a joke rather than a serious attempt to steal victory, and he was disqualified. The Amateur Athletic Union initially banned him, although the punishment was later lifted. In a remarkable comeback, he won the 1905 Boston Marathon without mechanical assistance, proving he was a genuinely talented distance runner too.
The Race Was Strange Even Without the Car
Lorz’s stunt was only one episode in a notoriously chaotic event. The race took place in brutal heat on dusty roads, with traffic moving alongside competitors and just one official water station. Cuban runner Félix Carvajal competed in street shoes, paused to snack, and reportedly became ill after eating rotten apples. Another athlete was chased off course by a dog.
Official winner Thomas Hicks endured an ordeal of his own. His handlers gave him egg whites, brandy, and doses of strychnine, then considered a stimulant, as he struggled toward the finish. Hicks completed the race in 3 hours, 28 minutes, and 53 seconds, but required medical attention afterward. The Smithsonian’s account of the 1904 marathon captures how dangerous and disorganized the competition became.
The fiasco shows that early Olympic events were far less standardized than today’s Games. It also turned Lorz into an enduring sports footnote: the marathoner who appeared to win by combining running with an unauthorized car ride. Explore more surprising sports facts.