Dorando Pietri Lives Today At 2008 London Marathon

Dorando lived again today, uttering his famous line to thousands of carbo-loading runners, joggers and fancy dressers from the stage at the Flora London Marathon pasta party in London’s Excel centre, site of the marathon Expo.

It wasn’t the real Dorando Pietri, of course, but an actor playing out the colourful scenes from the 1908 Olympics when the tiring Italian staggered into White City stadium at the end of the first marathon held over what is now the standard distance, fell to the track five times, and stumbled across the line in his number 19 bib with more than a little help from willing but misguided officials.

Those helping hands cost him the gold medal, but his valiant efforts made Dorando the star of the Games and from that day on the marathon has been run over the same special, peculiar distance.

“In 1908, the distance was set because of the most dramatic finish ever seen in a marathon,” said John Bryant, author of The Marathon Makers, a new book on the 1908 story.

“You are taking part in a very special race,” he told the anxious onlookers. “You may be feeling nervous now; 26 miles is a long way. But you are taking part in a historic occasion - the centenary of the marathon as we know it today.

“This story of this race is important,” he said. “It can teach everyone here a few lessons about running the marathon. Some went off too fast and never finished; some, like Dorando, were on their last legs; and some went slowly and timed their race to finish well.”

The man who finished strongest was Johnny Hayes, the American who crossed the line behind Dorando but was eventually awarded the gold medal, only to be booed by the British spectators as it was hung around his neck. Dorando, who had captured the hearts of the public, was presented with a special Gold Cup by Princess Alexandra who had started the race.

Both the Cup and Hayes’ medal were on show at the Expo, the Cup carried proudly by Christina Luppi, president of Sport Club La Patria, Dorando’s club in Carpi, his home town, and the medal displayed by Wayne Baker, vice president of Shore Athletics Club of New Jersey, where Hayes lived in the latter stages of his life.

“The medal was donated to the club by his daughter,” explained Mr Baker. “And we also have his race number from the Games. For me, this is a fantastic chance to come here and be in the presence of some of the holiest artefacts in running.”

Baker explained that, although Hayes was the real winner in 1908, the story is not as well known in America as it is in Italy. In Carpi at least the story is a legend, and there was proof of that in the Expo, as 19 runners from the Italian town took to the stage dressed as Dorando in white t-shirts and baggy red shorts, with a knotted white hankerchief perched precariously on their heads.

They will mark the centenary by completing the distance at 2008 London Marathon on Sunday dressed as their hero, among their number the leader of the town council, and a council member with special responsibility for sport in the Italian town.

Fortunately for the Italians, they won’t be the quickest Italians in the race tomorrow for the Olympic champion Stefano Baldini competes in the elite men’s race seeking to win his first London Marathon title in nine attempts. It would be fitting indeed if he were successful for Baldini lives just 15km from Carpi and knows the Dorando story well.

“I know everything about it,” he said, holding the Gold Cup as he lined up for the photographers with the 19 modern-day Dorandos. “He was born in my region, so there have been a lot of celebrations. The Carpi marathon is held in his honour on 24 July, the day of the 1908 Olympics.

“If I win on Sunday, then maybe in 100 years someone will remember something about me too,” he laughed. “His story is very important for local people.”

You could say his story is important for marathon people everywhere.

“When you go out on Sunday remember to be proud that you’re taking part in a very special centenary race,” said Bryant. “It is full of inspiration, not just for this marathon, but for marathons everywhere.”

Source: By London Marathon News