January 1, 1970

In the summer of 1908 London hosted the Olympic Games at White City after it relocated from Rome following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1906.

The most memorable event of the Games was the marathon and its inspiring protagonist, the Italian pastry chef, Dorando Pietri. Pietri entered the stadium in first place but collapsed several times and was helped over the line by nearby officials; as a result he was disqualified. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who was in attendance, described Pietri’s arrival:

‘I caught a glimpse of the haggard, yellow face, the glazed and expressionless eyes, the lank dark hair streaked across the brow. Surely he is done now. He cannot rise again.’

Excerpt from the Daily Mail article by Arthur Conan Doyle, 1908.