Michel Johann Théato was a French athlete, born the March 22nd 1878, died in 1919. He is Olympic champion of the marathon at the time of the second Olympiad of 1900 with Paris, in front of his compatriot Emile Champion.

The Olympic Marathon of 1900

Heat is overpowering (32°c) when Pre-Catelan fourteen of the seventeen spring engaged for this Olympic Marathon of 40,260 km by carrying out a loop through Paris. They are all out of shorts, and to protect itself from heat some carry rowers or simple handkerchiefs on the head. After only a few kilometers, nine competitors remain in race. Théato is upset by heat in first half of race then goes up on the first. It finishes with nearly five minutes in advance on Emile Champion in 2:59 ' 45" under the eyes more than 5000 spectators to Pre-Catelan.

Théato receives its Olympic medal in 1912 because of an error of budget in 1900. All the competitors of the Marathon, and not only Théato, at low prices receive the day of the test of the “trinkets”, causing the anger of the British delegation which returned these articles of “hardware” to the organizers… In 1912, one repairs this error.

The statistician of athletics Alain Bouillé reveals at the end of the 20th century that Théato was not yet French at the time of the Plays. Native of the Grand Duche du Luxembourg, it arrives to France at the 12 years age. He should have carried out his military service at the time of the Plays if he had obtained his naturalization before 1900. Luxembourg never claimed this title and CIO confirmed the victory " française" after work of Face.

A disputed title

Upset by their poor performances, the Americans Arthur Newton (fourth) and Dick Grant (seventh) disputed the victory of Théato. Newton declared on the finishing line that it had taken the head with semi-race and that it had not been exceeded any more. Frantz Reichel which followed the race for the Newspaper of the sports demented person this version. He followed the French best placed, that is to say by chronological order Touquet, Champion then Théato, and confirms that never Newton did not pass in front.

Dick Grant awaits 1960 to bring a lawsuit with the CIO in order to obtain repair following an incident of race related to the bad organization of the test. It would have been reversed by a bicycle whereas it was on the point of outdistancing Théato. Otto Mayer, chancellor of the CIO during the years 1960 and witness direct of the Marathon of 1900, did not have any evil with débouter the plaintiff because this incident of race had never taken place…

For many Anglo-Saxon authors, the victory of Théato remains suspect. They put in particular ahead the possibilities of taking short cuts. Raymond Pointu completely refutes this version in his work the Olympic Marathons (Athens 1896 - Athens 2004) , because of the course and the continual presence of witnesses along the course. The only element which can lend to controversies is the presence of hares, which carried out in particular the last fifteen kilometers at the sides of Théato, but also of the other competitors.

After its Olympic victory, Théato passed professional where it hardly shone. Its trade of origin generated some legends whereas Théato declared cabinetmaker on the finishing line: “I am a workman cabinetmaker, which does not prevent from being a sincere amateur. ” Some thought it baker, thus explaining his capacity to resist heat, others saw it garden of Racing Club of France.

Sources

• Pointed Raymond, Olympic Marathons (Athens 1896 - Athens 2004) , Paris, Calmann-Levy, 2004, p.22-34

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