About the Project
In 1904, the first modern Olympic marathon was run in los Estados Unidos’s deep south at the height of summer. Due to the heat, the water, and the dust in the air, half of the runners were hospitalized. The first man to cross the finish line had clearly done so in a car, yet his medal was not revoked for some time. The official gold medalist was fed raw eggs and strychnine to keep him on his feet. In fourth place came Cuban folk hero Felix Carvajal, a little man with a big moustache, who frequently stopped to chat with onlookers, share peaches with children, and allegedly have a nice nap.
Abby Denton breaks down the position of the United States and Cuba in 1904 to explain why Felix Carvajal is, in fact, one of the greatest men ever to walk the earth.
Production Team
