The Little-Known Story of Two African Runners at the 1904 Olympics

Did you know that two black South African runners were part of the Olympics way back in 1904? Their names were Jan Mashiani and Len Taunyane, often referred to just as Tau. While they competed in a marathon in St. Louis, they didn’t officially represent South Africa since, at the time, the country was still a British colony.

This was right after the South African War, and both men had likely served as messengers during the conflict. Although the first modern Olympic Games kicked off in Greece in 1896, no Africans were seen in those events. It took until after World War II for Africa to gain a notable presence in the Olympics.

At the 1904 Olympics, Mashiani and Tau, along with a white runner named BW Harris, were included in the marathon line-up. Interestingly, they participated in unique athletic events that were part of the St. Louis World’s Fair, which had a rather degrading theme of showcasing “savages.”

Before running in the marathon, both of them took part in what was branded as an “athletic event for savages.” This included competitions such as javelin throwing, baseball throwing, and even stone throwing. They were not just seen as competitors; they were part of a show that highlighted racial stereotypes popular at the time.

According to sports historian Floris van der Merwe, these two men were likely Tswana speakers, even though the Zulu people gained more international recognition. Interestingly, they were identified in the Olympic program as “mail carriers” and were mistakenly referred to by officials who struggled to pronounce their names.

The marathon event itself was tough, as it was run in sweltering conditions of 32°C, and the route was filled with dust kicked up by passing vehicles. In this grueling race, Harris dropped out early, while Tau finished ninth and Mashiani claimed the twelfth spot. There were reports that one of them could have placed better, but was unfortunately chased off course by a dog during the race.

These two runners were the first Africans to ever compete in the Olympic Games. It wasn’t until 1948 that another African would step into the Olympic arena, but that was complicated by the apartheid policies that barred black South Africans from representing their country.