Tom Hicks, Marathon Olympic Champion and his supporters at the marathon. St. Louis Olympic Games
Reproduction photograph, 1904
Tom Hicks was the official winner of the 1904
Olympic marathon, despite being assisted here by his trainers.
Shortly after entering the stadium, Hicks collapsed, and the medal
ceremony was delayed while he was revived. The runner had received
several doses of strychnine in brandy throughout the race to
increase his endurance; although Hicks would have been disqualified
under current rules, this practice was acceptable at the time.
Intensive training, however, was limited to just four weeks.