It makes sense to compare the figure of Conan Doyle – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – to that of such Gilding Stonespastry shop boy, son of farmers from the Lower Reggio area with a passion for running? And no, Dorando da Correggio, is not one of the secondary characters in Sherlock Holmesa cult work by the Edinburgh playwright who has colored world literature in yellow. In fact, Dorando is the furthest thing from the main character of Doyle’s novels. To be clear, we would never see him with a pipe, wearing aristocratic clothes and with an addiction kit – from cocaine to morphine – always ready at hand.
Dorando runs, he doesn’t know how to do anything elseIt is said that during the 1904 Carpi foot race he followed in the footsteps of the great champion of the time, Louis Pagliani said Periclesstill wearing his work uniform Melli Pastry Shop.
He has no time to change or the possibility to show off an outfit suitable for the sporting event. He doesn’t win but he sensationally keeps pace with the strongest. Pagliani included. From there it’s a Rossinian crescendo of continental victories that brings Dorando Pietri – for the more distracted Petri – to the start of the 1908 London Olympic Marathon. It is July 24th and for the first time in history the route unfolds over a distance of just over 42 kilometers. The Italian representative – at the time the colors were different – wore a white t-shirt and red shorts at the start – just 16 days earlier he had just returned from the 40 kilometers in Carpi. A marathon won with full merit, but very costly. It is hot in London. An unusual heat for British habits. At 2.33 pm the Princess of Wales gives the start and the three home representatives take the lead. Pietri manages himself and presses the leaders only from the halfway point onwards. He takes the lead of the race at the 39th kilometer, but the comeback is not free. Lucidity and energy are lacking. He manages to enter the London stadium for the final stretch of the marathon as the 75,000 spectators go crazy for him. Then, the collapse. The athlete from Correggio takes the wrong path and takes the opposite side of the track. At that point the judges invite him to change direction, but the sudden change in pace makes Dorando fall. A tragedy. He is without strength. Moved by compassion, the London judges literally picked him up from the ground and supported him to the finish line.. A caution that costs Dorando disqualification. A sensational mockery. The public cries, having empathized so much with the Italian hero that they experience the defeat first hand. And that’s when Sherlock Holmes’ father, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, comes into play by suggesting that Queen Alexandra give an extra prize to the Emilian champion. No medal but a golden silver cup for the athlete “Famous for not having won”Elementary, Dorando.