Better Late …

[Floater]

Shizo Kanakuri disappeared while running the marathon in the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. He was listed as a missing person in Sweden for 50 years — until a journalist found him living placidly in southern Japan.

http://www.futilitycloset.com/2009/05/08/better-late/

I remember seeing him reaching the goal on the telly, dressed in a business suit and a long coat after more than 54 years.

[Mycroft]

I think that technically he still hasn't finished since between 1912 whan he started and 1966 when he finished the Marathon has got longer. In the first 7 Olympics the distance of a Marathon was not standardised; the 1912 Stockholm route being 40.2km (24.98 miles). In 1921 a standard Marathon distance was established; that of the 1908 London Olympics of 42.195km (26.22 miles) so he never completed the extra 2km.

[Eddylizard]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

I think that technically he still hasn't finished since between 1912 whan he started and 1966 when he finished the Marathon has got longer. In the first 7 Olympics the distance of a Marathon was not standardised; the 1912 Stockholm route being 40.2km (24.98 miles). In 1921 a standard Marathon distance was established; that of the 1908 London Olympics of 42.195km (26.22 miles) so he never completed the extra 2km.

YOMANK.

I think that's not the point, he did (eventually) finish the prescribed course for the event he entered. The word 'marathon' and it's definition by international sporting bodies not being relevant. The event he entered was to run/walk whatever from "this place here" to "that place there" those two points being defined in the competition rules that were laid down when the race commenced.

Whether there are any rules about having a somewhat extended rest during the race, who knows.

Still it's an interesting story. Kudos to him, I can't even run to catch a bus.

[Floater]

IIRC they had filmed him when he entered the stadium the same route that they still use today and ran about 3/4 around it to the finishing line, so he must have covered about 300 metres.

http://www.hitta.se/LargeMap.aspx?z=...t%3E%3C/pts%3E