“Unveiling History: The Shocking Price Behind a 1904 Olympic Gold Medal That Stunned Auction Goers!”
In January 2025, Schule’s gold medal, preserved in remarkable condition with its original ribbon and leather case, sold for $545,371 at auction, making it one of the most valuable Olympic medals ever sold.
The Controversy Surrounding The 1904 Olympics In St. Louis
Public DomainFred Schule (far left) competing in the 110-meter hurdle event at the 1904 Olympics.
The St. Louis Olympics began on July 1, 1904. In total, 651 athletes from around 15 countries competed in the first Games hosted in the United States. The event took place at the same time as the St. Louis World’s Fair, drawing millions of people.
The Games were controversial for many reasons. Firstly, Chicago initially planned to host the games, but officials in St. Louis didn’t want the event to draw crowds away from the World’s Fair. They even threatened to host their own athletic competition if Chicago didn’t hand the Games over.
Then, there were the “Anthropology Days.” Indigenous people from around the world who were on display at the World’s Fair, such as Ota Benga, were touted as “savages” and forced to compete against each other in various events with no warning.
There was also the Olympic marathon, which was held on a 92-degree day but had just one water station halfway through the race. Many of the runners were forced to drop out. And the man who did cross the finish line first, Fred Lorz, was later found to have ridden in a car for three miles. What’s more, the athlete who ultimately won the gold medal did so by dosing himself with rat poison, and he had to be carried over the finish line.
