July 24, 1908 – There was some controversy at the London Olympic Marathon. American runner Johnny Hayes is given the Gold Medal for his finish with an Olympic record of 2:55:18.4. The Controversy was that Dorando Pietri of Italy had been disqualified for receiving assistance before the finish line.
Pietri had been the first athlete to enter the stadium where a crowd of onlookers anticipated him crossing the finish stripe first. Dorando had been helped over the finish line by British officials who were in charge of the games when he had been found to be struggling near the end of the race in what would have been a record pace.
Olympic rules stipulate that the runners must cross the finish line under their own power to be official. Many said this was the most exciting finish since Ancient Greek times when a race winner was said to have died crossing the line to win.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
Century For Stripes: From Billy Jeffrey to Fraser Kershaw
In the chronicles of American soccer history, one name stands out as a symbol
1970s Baltimore Colts (An Up and Down Decade)
The 1970s was an up-and-down decade for the Baltimore Colts. After a disappointing 8–5–1
Harlon Hill: From Florence State to the NFL
Stories about unknown or undrafted collegiate players making it big in the NFL, are
A Decade of Dominance and Drama: The West From 2010 – 2020
If you are looking for a division that is a microcosm of football’s high-intensity
Early Rule Changes In Basketball (The First 50 Years)
Let us take a trip to the past to look at some of the
The Most Lopsided Blowout In College Football History
Every year in college football there is a game where one team finds out
Relive My First Super Bowl Experience With Me (Super Bowl IV)
The first Super Bowl I can remember watching was Super Bowl IV. I was
Remembering Chester Marcol’s Incredible Rookie Season
By the time of the 1972 NFL Player Draft, the Green Bay Packers, in