The first Olympic Games held in the US might have been the worst and most bizarre. In 1904, St. Louis hosted the Olympics as part of the World’s Fair to celebrate the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase. Although there were moments of genuine triumph, they were largely overshadowed by the fair.
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The classic Olympic event, the marathon, was conceived to honor the original Greek games and draw a connection between the ancient and modern periods. However, the 1904 marathon was more of a spectacle than a showstopper. The outcome was so scandalous that the event was almost eliminated for good. Here’s what happened.