The men's marathon at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics was less an athletic event and more a lethal battle of endurance. Held in brutal 90-degree Fahrenheit heat on dirt roads churned into thick dust clouds by accompanying automobiles, the race saw only 14 of 32 competitors finish.
The conditions were so severe that one runner swallowed enough dust to suffer severe stomach hemorrhaging. The most infamous story belonged to the eventual gold medalist, Thomas Hicks. Around the 10-mile mark, Hicks was completely exhausted and begged his support team to let him lie down.
Instead, his handlers denied him water, believing dehydration built stamina. Instead of hydration, they administered a mixture of strychnine sulfate—a powerful stimulant commonly used as rat poison—and egg whites. When Hicks faltered again near the finish, his team gave him a second dose of strychnine washed down with French brandy.
Strychnine in small amounts acts as a nervous system stimulant, but in larger doses, it is fatal. Hicks hallucinated his way across the finish line, supported physically by his handlers while dragging his feet. Though he was awarded the gold medal, he collapsed immediately afterward and required four doctors to revive him.
At the time, performance-enhancing drugs were not prohibited, making Hicks' toxic regimen completely legal. His victory stood as a terrifying testament to early sports science and the harrowing absurdity of the 1904 St. Louis Games.