The idea of holding a marathon race at the first Olympics was suggested to Pierre de Coubertin by Michel Bréal.

[1] On April 10, 1896, Greek water-carrier Spyridon Louis won the first Olympic marathon in 2 hours 58 minutes and 50 seconds.

Such marathons played a key role in the expansion of the road running movement internationally over the course of the 20th century.

[8] At the 2020 Tokyo games, the marathon was instead held in Sapporo due to heat concerns in the host city.

[11] Abebe Bikila, Waldemar Cierpinski, and Eliud Kipchoge are the only athletes to have won two Olympic gold medals in the marathon.

[17] At this event a men's marathon was held over 41.86 km and Canada's Billy Sherring won the competition.