✉news SportOlympics first seen 5 h ago, last 21 min ago, peak #4
The 1904 Olympic marathoner who took rat poison to chase gold
Original: At the 1904 Olympics, a marathoner took rat poison to win gold
A Popular Science piece recounts the chaotic 1904 St. Louis Olympic marathon, where runner Thomas Hicks took strychnine, then a common rat poison, with brandy to help him win gold. His handlers administered the drug during the race, a practice that was then legal. The story highlights how dangerous early Olympic conditions and 'medicine' were, and why the race is remembered as one of the strangest in Games history.
Why now: Olympics interest drives resurfacing of the infamous and dangerous 1904 marathon story.
Thomas Hicks1904 St. Louis OlympicsPopular Science
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- At the 1904 Olympics, a marathoner took rat poison to win gold · Popular Science
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