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The current official distance of 26 miles, 385 yards (42.195 km) was adopted by the IAAF in 1921, and it is assumed to derive from the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.As it turned out, the 1908 Olympic Marathon had a dramatic finish. The first runner in the stadium was the Italian Dorando Pietri, who was stricken by extreme fatigue and dehydration. Pietri staggered into the stadium, turned the wrong way, and fell down. With over 75,000 spectators in the stadium watching, umpires helped him up and directed him in the right direction. After nearly ten minutes of his faltering, wobbling steps, Pietri crossed the finish line.This marathon was called the "Race of the Century," and reflecting the public's wild interest in this dramatic, dangerous event.While officially the IAAF has no reasoning behind setting the official marathon distance at 42.195 km, it is often though to be in tribute to the stunning and memorable 1908 Olympic Marathon. |
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