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Thomas Hicks was the recognized winner of the men’s marathon at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics, after his handlers gave him strychnine during the race. Fred Lorz crossed the finish line first, but was disqualified after it emerged that he had ridden in an automobile for part of the course.
What Hicks was given during the race
About seven miles from the finish, Hicks’s two-man support crew gave him strychnine mixed with egg whites. Later, after Lorz’s disqualification, they gave Hicks another dose with brandy, according to Smithsonian Magazine’s account of the race.
“Rat poison” is shorthand for the episode: the substance identified in the account is strychnine. Smithsonian describes it as a stimulant used in small doses at the time, while noting that the CDC describes strychnine as a strong poison used primarily as a pesticide, particularly to kill rats. The account gives no dose measurement, so the amount Hicks received should not be inferred.
Why Hicks won after Lorz crossed first
Lorz rode in an automobile for part of the marathon, then returned to running and crossed the finish line first. When the deception came to light, officials disqualified him; Hicks was recognized as the winner. The distinction matters: Lorz was first across the line, but Hicks received the Olympic victory.
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The race took place before Olympic rules included a performance-enhancing-drug rule, Smithsonian notes. It is therefore misleading to describe Hicks’s win as a modern anti-doping violation without that qualification.
How Hicks appeared near the finish
Race official Charles Lucas described Hicks’s condition over the final miles. As reproduced by Smithsonian, Lucas wrote: “Over the last two miles of the road, Hicks was running mechanically—like a well-oiled piece of machinery. His eyes were dull, lusterless; the ashen color of his face and skin had deepened; his arms appeared as weights well tied down; he could scarcely lift his legs, while his knees were almost stiff.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Further reading on the 1904 marathon
For broader context about the St. Louis Games, see George R. Matthews’s America’s First Olympics: The St. Louis Games of 1904, cited by Smithsonian. The LA84 Foundation also has a dedicated account of the 1904 Olympic Marathon. These sources differ in scope; current retail availability and editions are not established here.
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