American’s first time hosting the Olympics took place in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904. While this should have been a memorable moment in the US’ history, the marathon will forever be remembered as one of the most bizarre things in the world of competitive sports.
Coincided with the World’s Fair
Hosting the Olympics is a prideful event for the host’s countrymen, but the summer games took place at the same time as the World’s Fair, which celebrated American Imperialism following the Louisiana Purchase. The fair had its own share of sporting events, such as the Anthropological Days, in which “savages” were hired to showcase their athletic prowess by climbing a greased pole, mud slinging, and through exotic dances. These events upset the foreign athletes competing in the Olympics.