About the Games
These Olympic Games were the first to have been held outside Europe with 651 participants from 12 countries.
Also, during these Games the current three-medal (gold, silver, and bronze for first, second, and third places) format was introduced. The athletes competed in 95 events.
Most medals won (from a total of 10 teams) by: 1. USA – 239 (78, 82, 79), 2. Germany – 13 (4, 4, 5), 3. Cuba – 9 (4, 2, 3).
Interesting facts
St. Louis Olympic Games lasted for 4.5 months. The Games were greatly overshadowed by the chaos of the World’s Fair during which the celebration on the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase from France took place.
Only 62 athletes from outside North America came to the Games.
During these Olympic Games, boxing, freestyle wrestling, decathlon, and dumbbells made their debuts.
The swimming events were held in a temporary pond in the city center, where demonstrations of unsinkable lifeboats for ocean liners took place.
The marathon event was eventually won by the American Thomas Hicks, who became the champion after his compatriot Fred Lorz was disqualified for covering much of the course by car.
St. Louis 1904 Summer Olympics website: