Place Name
Honouring Dorando Pietri (October 16, 1885 – February 7, 1942) the Italian long-distance runner who finished first in the marathon at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London but was subsequently disqualified, amid much controversy, after receiving assistance from well-meaning officials. Pietri was a 22-year-old confectioner baker when he took part in the Games. Said to be self-trained he had won the 1904 Paris marathon and the 1906 Rome marathon. Despite these achievements few gave him much chance, his running was said to have an odd gait and his breathing was laboured and, in any case, England’s runners were said to be unmatched at this distance. That faithful race described at the time as “the greatest long-distance event in the history of the world” took place on Friday, July 24, 1908. The course had been laid out from the gatehouse of Windsor Castle into the White City Stadium, 26 miles away (but not quite: a long held legend has it that an extra 385 yards were added so that the runners would pass directly in front of the royal box at the finish line; another story claims that the extra yards were added at the beginning off the race at the behest of Princess Mary, Princess of Wales, who had asked if the starting line could be moved into Windsor Castle’s private grounds so that the young princes could watch it from the windows of their nursery. Both stories are said to be false, researchers found the Polytechnic Harriers who laid the course made a request to Windsor Castle to be allowed to start the race there – whatever the truth those extra yards played a crucial role in the outcome of the race.) By the time the runners representing 16 countries had lined up the mercury had risen to 78 degrees. The focus for the trainers was on stimulants not hydration and for most runners only a wet towel or cup of reviving Oxo (who were the race sponsors) would have to suffice in the heat. At the 24th mile Pietri was still only in second place to South African Charles Heffron. It was then that Heffron made a catastrophic mistake. Victory almost within his grasp, he took a sip of champagne from an admirer who ran alongside him past Railway Cottages, at Willesden Junction. At Old Oak Lane, just a mile from the finish line, the wine gave him cramp. His stride grew shorter, all the while the Italian gained on him.
Then, with the stadium in sight, Heffron dropped to a walk. At this Pietri seized the advantage, finding new wind, he spurted past the South African. A short while later he staggered into the stadium, under the gaze of 100,000 spectators. Written off by most, few had little idea who he was. The New York Times described the scene: “The colours and the number told the spectators that it was Dorando and his name was on every lip. He staggered along the cinder path like a man in a dream, his gait being neither a walk nor a run, but simply a flounder with arms shaking and legs tottering. By devious ways he went on. People had lost thought of his nationality and partisanship was forgotten. They rose in their seats and saw only this small man clad in red knickers tottering onward with his head so bent forward that the chin rested on his chest.” Then, to the gasps of all, he collapsed. Fears that he had fainted proved unfounded as he rose and shuffled on for a few more yards only to slump to the ground again in the final straight. Taken by the excitement of the moment and in an act of humanity two officials helped him to his feet just yards from the finish line. By now, Johnny Hayes, an American runner had entered the stadium and was gaining on him. Pietri, being held up by the elbows, fell across the finish line and was stretchered off. With almost everyone’s attention focussed on the Italian, Hayes who crossed the line 32 seconds later was left to walk off the field himself. The Italian was declared the winner, Hayes second, and Heffron third. The US team flew into a rage, accusing the British officials of bias and claiming that Pietri should have been withdrawn from the race. The American managers also pointed out, quite fairly, that Pietri had been aided across the line. Attempts to coax Heffron to join the complaint came to nothing, as the South African declared: “I will not seek to gain second place on a protest. In such a race as this, I will either win by being first past the post, or I will not win at all. Dorando has won; he deserves the great victory, and I will not do anything top rob him of it. Dorando was the best man. Let the best man have the honour.” However, a short while later the judges agreed he had been aided and he was disqualified. On hearing the news Pietri objected on the grounds he had never asked for assistance, claiming he could have finished it unaided. But his objection was turned down and he had to contend with being the “moral victor”. This was true, his plight so moved the crowds, that Queen Alexandra had a gilded silver cup made out of her own expense to award him. As Rebecca Jenkins in 1908: The First London Olympics explains: “Johnny Hayes may have been the official winner of the Olympic marathon, but by apparently nearly killing himself, the small-town confectioner’s assistant from Capri had provided a moment of public drama perfectly expressing the emotion encapsulated in the story of the mythical ancient herald. Hayes’s success established the winning superiority of the Americans’ strategies and scientific training methods, but it was Pierti who won the public heart.” Pietri returned to Italy and married his childhood sweetheart the following year. He continued running marathons and exhibition races in Europe and America. In 1911 he retired to San Remo and opened a hotel – which later went bust. He died from a heart attack. This road was laid out over the site of the White City Stadium, which had originally been the location of the Cowley Brick Works. The stadium was pulled down in 1985 and was replaced with the White City Estate.
