The earliest renditions of the Olympics featured a whole lot of running and a whole lot of nudity. Today, there may be a little less nakedness, but running still remains a pillar of the modern Olympic Games. So it’s only fitting that we unpack one of the most bizarre events in the history of the games - the 1904 Marathon in St. Louis. Today on Found Objects, we will also delve into the origins of the games in Ancient Greece and their long awaited return in 1896. You will soon learn that the events may have modernized, but the tradition lives on. Just in time for us to celebrate the start of the 33rd Olympiad!

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SOURCES:

10 Amazing Ancient Olympic Facts, History Channel, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a7vuvHuPic.

Abbott, Karen. “How the 1904 Marathon Became One of the Weirdest Olympic Events of All Time.” Smithsonian.Com, Smithsonian Institution, 7 Aug. 2012, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-1904-marathon-became-one-of-the-weirdest-olympic-events-of-all-time-14910747/.

“Ancient Olympic Games.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 July 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Olympic_Games.

History.com Editors. “First Modern Olympic Games | April 6, 1896.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-modern-olympic-games. Accessed 18 July 2024.

History.com Editors. “The Olympic Games: Locations, Facts, Ancient & Modern.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 6 Jan. 2010, www.history.com/topics/sports/olympic-games.

Little, Becky. “When Young Ancient Greek Women Raced at Olympia.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 8 July 2024, www.history.com/news/ancient-greek-girls-women-heraia-race-olympia.

Nelsen, Matt. “Twelve of the Biggest Athletes to Watch at Paris 2024.” Paris 2024, 8 July 2024, olympics.com/en/news/twelve-popular-athletes-ready-to-leave-their-mark-paris-2024.

Olympic History - from the Home of Zeus in Olympia to the Modern Games, International Olympic Committee, olympics.com/ioc/ancient-olympic-games/history. Accessed 18 July 2024.

Sakavitsi, Kalliopi. “The History of the Olympic Games.” Paris 2024, 11 Jan. 2024, olympics.com/en/news/the-history-of-the-olympic-games.

Voigt, Robin. “The Evolution of the Early Olympics*.” International Society of Olympic Historians, isoh.org/cause-view/the-evolution-of-the-early-olympics/. Accessed 18 July 2024.