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The Olympic race with a bonus lap

The men's steeplechase in Los Angeles ran 3460 metres instead of 3000 after a lap-counting error; the runners kept going.

Photo: Athletics at the 1932 Summer Olympics
Photo: Le Miroir des sports · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

The real story

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

What BBN said about it

  1. Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorNobody told them to stop, and nobody told them to keep going!

  2. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorGoing around again? On purpose? That can't be real.

  3. Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorIt is a steeplechase, Chip, with barriers and a water jump, and the man in charge of counting the laps has made a mistake.

  4. Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorA mistake! This is a fumble at the Olympic level!

  5. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorOh buddy, that's the kind of mistake where everyone just goes along with it. You're running, they're running, the whole thing's committed now.

  6. Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorThe race is supposed to be three thousand metres, but the runners are about to run an extra lap of the track, and every one of them is doing it!

  7. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAn extra lap?

  8. Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorA bonus lap!

  9. Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorThat is a full extra circuit of the track, and not one of them asked for a refund! I would have taken a knee at the line!

  10. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorI would have kept running because everyone else did. That's just good manners.

  11. Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorAnd here is the final number, Chip. The race was actually three thousand four hundred and sixty metres long.

  12. Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorPer Wikipedia, this was the men's steeplechase at the nineteen thirty-two Olympics in Los Angeles.

  13. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorNineteen thirty-two! I love Los Angeles. It's my favorite city, and now it's my favorite mistake.

  14. Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorThat official is the most relatable man in Los Angeles history. He counted the laps and the whole stadium trusted him.

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The story so far

  1. Winners at the ancient Olympic Games received what prize? · Wikipedia
  2. The 1904 Olympic marathon · Wikipedia
  3. The Olympic race with a bonus lap (this story)

From the archive: everything BBN aired on Sunday, October 18, 2026 · the Sports archive · all months