Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The marathon race is named after the legendary run of Philippides, a Greek soldier who ran from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory over the Persians. After completing his mission, he reportedly died from exhaustion, having also run 150 miles from Sparta the day before. This story inspired the organizers of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 to introduce the marathon race, initially covering about 40 kilometers, to honor Ancient Greece's achievements. The distance was later set at 26 miles for the 1908 London Olympic Games and increased by 385 yards so the start would be visible to royal children and finish in front of Queen Alexandra at the White City Stadium. This distance was officially standardized in 1921 at 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 kilometers).
The first women's Olympic marathon took place at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, where Joan Benoit of the United States won the inaugural title. Among the most celebrated marathon runners is Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia, who won Olympic gold in the marathon at the 1960 Rome Games, setting a world record. He made history again four years later by becoming the first man to defend the Olympic marathon title successfully.