Marathon anecdotes.

 THE MARATHON IN THE FIRST OLYMPICS. ATHENS
1896
It is impossible to speak of the marathon as a race without relating it to the Olympic Games.
The Olympic Games of antiquity were sacred events and were considered the most important religious, athletic and cultural festival in Greece. For the Greeks, achieving victory in the Olympic Games was the most valuable and coveted thing. From its inception in 776 BC until its prohibition in AD 394, the Olympic Games were held every four years without interruption. Athletes from all Greek cities met at Olympia. Local judges played an important role in the Games of old. They selected the participating athletes.
They also supervised that the athletes slept on hard ground and followed an austere diet for a month of training. In the end, those who were approved traveled to the city of Olympia in a procession that lasted two days.
As today, solemn opening and closing ceremonies were held. The winners of the different disciplines received material aid from the cities of Greece. At Olympia the only prize was the crown of olive branches.
The Games were banned by Emperor Theodosius I in 394 AD, considering them a pagan rite. The longest race included in the ancient Greek Olympic Games was only 4.614 meters. The founder of the Olympic Games of the modern era was Pierre de Fredy (Baron de Coubertin) was always interested in education and believed that sport had the power to benefit humanity and encourage peace among the nations of the world. At age 31, he announced his desire to revive the Olympics, but no one believed in him and there was not much enthusiasm or support.
Coubertin was not disappointed and founded on June 23, 1894 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in a ceremony held in the
La Sorborne University in Paris. Two years later, after great efforts, the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in the city of Athens.

We will continue with anecdotes from the great race ……… ..