The Most Scandalous Moments in Olympic History Revealed!
London 1908: Wyndham Halswelle’s Uncontested Victory
The 1908 Olympics witnessed a unique and controversial event: the only time a gold medal was awarded to an athlete who ran alone. Wyndham Halswelle of Britain found himself in this unusual situation during the 400m final. Initially, Wyndham finished second, but American runner John Carpenter was disqualified for blocking, a move allowed under United States rules but banned in Britain.
In protest, John and his fellow American athletes refused to participate in the re-run, leaving Wyndham to jog to an uncontested victory. This incident highlighted the differences in international athletic rules and marked a bizarre chapter in Olympic history.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login