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The 1904 Olympic marathon

Thirty-two runners started the 1904 St. Louis marathon and only fourteen finished, on dusty roads with no cleared course; the gold nearly went to a man who rode.

On air: Rex "Two-Point" Gridley and Chip Darnell on The Five O'Clock
Published 4:46 PM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

Photo: Sam valadi · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · Sports

Watch it as it aired: Rex "Two-Point" Gridley and Chip Darnell on this story, from The Five O'Clock at 4:46 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Wikipedia's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: St. Louis — Photo: Sam valadi · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by Wikipedia: “The 1904 Olympic marathon”.
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 4:46 PM ET on The Five O'Clock, by Rex "Two-Point" Gridley and Chip Darnell.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

WikipediaThe 1904 Olympic marathon

What BBN said about it

Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorFolks, a man is riding in a car, waving at the crowd, in the middle of the Olympic marathon!
Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorHe quit after nine miles and hitched a ride back toward the stadium!
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThat cannot be real. A car? In the marathon?
Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorOh, it's real, Chip!
Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorThen the car breaks down at the nineteenth mile, he hops out, jogs on, crosses the finish line first, and they nearly hand him the gold medal before spectators speak up!
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorNearly gold! That's some hustle, Rex. I'd need a nap after nine miles, let alone keep running.
Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorFrederick Lorz admitted it and called it a practical joke. He was banned, later reinstated, and won the Boston Marathon in nineteen oh five!
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWon it fair?
Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorFair, as far as the record books say! And it gets worse.
Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorThirty-two runners start and only fourteen finish, dodging trolley cars, delivery wagons and people walking their dogs.
Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorOne runner gets chased about a mile off course by a dog!
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorStop it. A dog chased him?
Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorAnd Cuban postman Andarin Carvajal arrives at the last minute, stops in an orchard, eats apples that turn out to be rotten, lies down for a nap, and still finishes fourth!
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThat is the most inspiring thing I have ever heard, Rex. High five!
Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorIt was August thirtieth, nineteen oh four, in St. Louis, Missouri, per Wikipedia.
Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorHottest part of the day, about ninety degrees, and the only water was a well halfway.
Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorChip, you'd have been great at it, with a car.

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