Episode 56
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In 1904, the city of St. Louis won the bid to house one of the new Olympic games. In this episode, Kara is diving into the wild and whacky events that took place in these games including women racing to win a pound of tea and marathon runners being denied water and only give alcohol and one dude even being poisoned with strychnine. The 1904 Olympics was one for the history books before you know it, everything will fly off the rails. So sit back and relax with a sports drink of your choice... like brandy and enjoy the chicanery.
The 1904 Games were the first Olympics held in the United States.
The marathon became infamous: it was run in extreme heat and dust, leading to multiple cases of dehydration and near-collapse.
Travel difficulties and the Russo-Japanese War meant very few athletes came from abroad. Of the ~650 athletes, only about 62 were from outside North America.
The 1904 Games were the first to use the modern medal system (gold for first, silver for second, bronze for third).
George Poage became the first African-American athlete to win Olympic medals, earning two bronze in track and field hurdles.
Browse through Kara's show notes for the episode below ⬇