In addition, the curves of the track were very tight, making fast times in the running events virtually impossible.

When he learned the actual competition discus weighed only 2 kilograms, he entered the event after all, and won it, to the dismay of the Greek public, who considered their throwers "unbeatable".

It was conceived by Michel Bréal, a friend of Pierre de Coubertin, based on the legend of Pheidippides.

When Spiridon Louis, a water carrier from Maroussi, arrived in the stadium he was accompanied by the Greek Crown Prince on his final lap.

[4] The exploits of Louis, Garrett, Connolly, and Flack would be chronicled in the 1984 NBC miniseries, The First Olympics: Athens, 1896.

The day after the official marathon Stamata Revithi ran the 40-kilometer course in 5 hours 30 minutes,[5] finishing outside Panathinaiko Stadium.

[2] Further, Chile claims to have had a competitor participate,[7] which would increase the total to 64 athletes from 10 nations, but other sources list Luis Subercaseaux as not having started.