Igniting the flame: America's first Olympic team

"Nothing more than a glorified pickup squad"

"Games at Athens? What games?"

A rousing start

The Baron

"All were stupefied"

"Lithe forms and springy steps"

"Most gratifying to every Princeton man"

"Man of many parts"

Smoking guns

"A foreigner should not win this race!"

"Jesu Christo! I'm freezing!"

"Rah! rah! rah! Ellas, Ellas, Ellas, Zito!"

"A set of men that the nation may well feel proud of"

"Good feelings and fellowship predominated"

Appendix. 1896 Olympic results.