1896 The race in the inaugural Olympic Games in 1896 was for men only; a women's marathon was introduced nearly 90 years later, in the 1984 Summer Olympics. The length was standardised in 1921 at 42.195 km (26 mi 385 yds).
The distance of the first modern Olympic Marathon in 1896 was 40 km (24 miles 85 yards), so why, at the 1908 London Olympic Games, was it run over its now-standard distance of 42.195 km (26 miles 385 yards)?
Although the modern Olympic Games was established for competition by amateurs, full professionals began to be admitted. One of the last sports to be fully amateur in the Olympics accepted professionals in the 2016 Games. Which one was this?
