100 years later, the Summer Olympics are being held in Paris for the third time. There is not much to compare with back then. But one thing is certain: if you know your way around the city, you have an advantage.
The one that history tells us was the first Summer Olympics in Paris 124 years ago was little more than a series of competitions over almost half a year. The Swiss marksmen, who at the time were as sure-footed as Tell, simply won an "international competition" in Paris. It was not until decades later that they received gold medals for their efforts.
In 1900, Michel Théato from Paris won the marathon because he knew his way around the city, while most of the foreign participants got lost. Arthur Newton (USA), who finished fifth, over an hour after Théato, thought he had won. The competitors were accused of using bicycles.
100 years ago - at the second Paris Olympics - the Summer Games were more orderly. Johnny Weissmuller, an American swimmer, provided the glamor: Weissmuller won three gold medals and also took bronze in water polo. He later achieved more publicity as a Hollywood Tarzan. He was the first sportsman to switch to film.
The term "standing knockout" was also coined in Paris. The American Joe Lazarus was declared a loser in boxing by the judges after knocking out the Swede Oscar Andren. And Norris Williams, an English tennis player (with Hazel Wightman) who had survived the sinking of the Titanic twelve years earlier as a 21-year-old, won gold in mixed tennis.
