Once again the Olympic competitions were spread out over four and a half months and were lost in the chaos of a World's Fair.
They were the first games at which gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded for first, second and third place, while boxing and freestyle wrestling made their debuts.
Marathon runners Len Tau and Jan Mashiani, Tswana tribesmen who were in St Louis as part of the Boer War exhibit at the World's Fair, became the first Africans to compete in the Olympics.
American gymnast George Eyser won six medals even though his left leg was made of wood.
Chicago runner James Lightbody won the steeplechase and the 800m and then set a world record in the 1,500m while the Milwaukee Meteor Archie Hahn, champion in the 60m and 100m, set a new Olympic record of 21.6 seconds in the 200m - a feat that would not be broken for 28 years.
British gold medals: 1
