Sports History On This Day: August 30

August 30, 1904 – Perhaps the main staple of the Olympics from ancient Greece carried over to today’s games in the marathon race. Thomas Hicks won the third marathon run in the modern Olympics with a time of 3:28:53.0 as part of the World’s Fair Exposition in St Louis, MO.

Hicks originally born in England moved to the States in his younger years to gain American citizenship His victory of Gold at this Olympic endurance race was not without controversy. At first take it appeared that Hicks came in a distant second place to Fred Lorz. It was later found that Lorz ran the first nine miles and then poor weather and surface conditions forced him to get into a car of a supporter.

Lorz was found to later have rejoined the race with about five miles remaining and crossed the finish before any other competitors. He was soon stripped of the victory and it was then awarded to our man Hicks.

By today’s standards Hicks would have been disqualified for doping as it is said he was given a couple of doses of strychnine. The chemical gives a boost of endurance to athletes and in the modern era it is a banned substance for most athletic competitions including the Olympic games.