The Olympics are the biggest multi-sports event in the world where thousands of athletes converge in a show of strength, determination, resilience and endurance. Several records of various kinds have been made and broken at the Olympics. One such unique record is the longest marathon ever run in the history of the Olympics.

Japanese runner Shizo Kanakuri 54 years 246 days 5 hours 32 minutes 20.3 seconds to complete his Olympic marathon. The record is not without an interesting story to it.

Shiso Kanakuri started running at a young age as he used to run miles to-and-fro school. His incredible running ability won him the Japanese marathon trial in 1911 which qualified him for the 1912 Stockholm Olympics in Sweden. With this, Kanakuri became the first Japanese athlete, along with Yahiko Mishima, to take part at the Olympics.

Kanakuri spent 18 days by ship and then traveled on the Trans Siberian Railway to reach Stockholm. On his arrival in the city, he got extremely tired and exhausted. Despite five days of rest, he was not in the best of his forms to run a marathon.

The first Japanese Olympian began running for the marathon, creating history for his country. However, he dropped out of the race midway and joined a Swedish family at a garden party where he fell asleep on a couch. He was among the several marathon runners that day who could not complete the race. One of them even died tragically.

Instead of officially withdrawing and informing organizers, Kanakuri quietly left his accommodation and returned to Japan, leaving the Swedish authorities with no knowledge of his whereabouts. This resulted in him being officially listed as a missing person in Sweden for over 50 years.

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In 1967, Kanakuri was invited to Stockholm to complete the Olympics, which he did. On achieving this feat, the “Father of Japanese Marathon”, as he popularly came to be known, told reporters. “It’s been a long race, but then I got myself a wife, six children, and 10 grandchildren during it, and that takes time, you know.”

Imagine a detective story worthy of Sherlock Holmes himself: a royal twist, a sporting controversy, and a determined amateur detective determined to solve a 116-year-old mystery. This is the tale of the 1908 London Olympic Marathon and the man who proved the iconic distance is true.

The drama unfolded on a sweltering London day in 1908. The Italian runner, Dorando Pietri, collapsed just meters from the finish line leading the marathon. Aided by officials he stumbled across the finish line only to be disqualified for receiving assistance. The American Johnny Hayes, was declared the winner.

This dramatic finish captivated Arthur Conan Doyle, who witnessed the event. However, the real mystery had yet to unfold. It all centred around the marathon’s distance which had been loosely established as around 25 miles until then. The 1908 Olympics marked the first time a specific distance—26 miles and 385 yards—was used.

Fast forward a century. A journalist reveled a bombshell: the 1908 course remeasured using modern methods appeared 174 yards short. Panic gripped marathon runners—was the iconic distance a big mistake?

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Enter Joe Neanor, a retired civil servant and a passionate marathon runner. Devastated by the news, he embarked on a four-year quest to prove the original distance was accurate.

The biggest hurdle? The discrepancy lay within the first 700 yards inside Windsor Castle, where the race began. The official records could have been more clear.

Neanor’s relentless digging through archives paid off. He unearthed a panoramic photo from a newspaper that captured the starting line and a crucial landmark – the young Princess Mary and the future King George VI.

With the starting point identified, Neanor needed an expert to re-measure the course. Hugh Jones, a London Marathon winner who measures marathon distances for a living, stepped in. But a new challenge arose: securing permission from the Royel Family to access the restricted areas of Windsor Castle.

Neanor took a shot in the dark and wrote to King Charles, requesting permission. Remarkably, the King granted his approval, showcasing his interest in the historical quest.

On a rainy day, Neanor and Jones, accompanied by the Windsor Castle superintendent, finally put their theory to the test. With meticulous measurements and trusty tools they are measured the first 700 yards.

The answer? A triumphant handshake. The original measurement was spot-on. The 1908 marathon truly covered the now-iconic 26 miles and 385 yards.

Neanor’s detective work might not be over. Windsor Castle is considering acknowledging his efforts by marking the starting point for future reference.

Regardless, Neanor has secured his place in history. He not only solved a longstanding mystery but also ensured the legacy of the 1908 marathon – the race that truly established the gruelling, yet revered, distance of 42,195 meters.