Word: dorando
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...news of a battle over cliff roads to Sparta. The 1908 marathon was run over English high ways from Windsor Castle past Slough, Wexham, Heath, Ruislip. Wembley, to a stadium 26 miles and 480 yards from the start. Marathon races were well-patronized then; the greatest of runners was Dorando, a confectioner from the island of Capri. Hayes was 22, the son of an East Side Manhattan Irish baker; he was 5 ft. 3 ¾ in. tall and his number was 26. One hot. windless day. late in July, a gun was fired, and the runners strung out along...
...announcer in the stadium, wearing a scarlet tailcoat because the Queen was expected to be present at the finish, called the positions. Dorando was leading; Hefferon. a South African, was second and Hayes, who started slowly, took third place in the last six miles. Just after 5 o'clock the stadium track was cleared and at 23 minutes past, Dorando and Hefferon were in sight, running heavily down a hillside...
...leader came into the stadium, the crowd roared and then became quickly silent; Dorando was swaying in his stride and his face was that of a man charging against some invisible monster who held his shoulders and would not let him move. His legs were red with running; they twisted under him suddenly like sticks of cinnamon and he lay crumpled in the dirt just beyond the bicycle track. A man named McAndrews ran out and helped him to his feet; Dorando staggered three steps and fell again; two men helped him up this time; the track was full...
Obviously, the U. S. runner had won the race, but after watching Dorando wriggling to the finish like a wounded fly, no one wished Hayes to have the prize. The Italian flag went up; the U. S. protest was allowed at 8 in the evening. British newspapers scored the decision of the committee; the Queen of England gave each of the runners a bronze medal, and the king from nearby Windsor sent each one an oak wreath...