Fred Schule won the medal for the 110-meter hurdle event at the 1904 Olympic Games, which were fraught with controversy.
RR AuctionFred Schule’s gold medal from the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis.
More than a century ago, Fred Schule hurdled his way into Olympic history at the 1904 Games in St. Louis. Now, his “exceedingly rare” gold medal has leaped into the spotlight once again.
The 1904 Olympics were the first to take place in the United States, and they established the tradition of awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals to competitors. Fred Schule won one of the 96 gold medals given out that year for taking first place in the 110-meter hurdle event.
In January 2025, Schule’s gold medal, preserved in remarkable condition with its original ribbon and leather case, sold for $545,371 at auction, making it one of the most valuable Olympic medals ever sold.
The Controversy Surrounding The 1904 Olympics In St. Louis
Public DomainFred Schule (far left) competing in the 110-meter hurdle event at the 1904 Olympics.
The St. Louis Olympics began on July 1, 1904. In total, 651 athletes from around 15 countries competed in the first Games hosted in the United States. The event took place at the same time as the St. Louis World’s Fair, drawing millions of people.
The Games were controversial for many reasons. Firstly, Chicago initially planned to host the games, but officials in St. Louis didn’t want the event to draw crowds away from the World’s Fair. They even threatened to host their own athletic competition if Chicago didn’t hand the Games over.
Then, there were the “Anthropology Days.” Indigenous people from around the world who were on display at the World’s Fair, such as Ota Benga, were touted as “savages” and forced to compete against each other in various events with no warning.
There was also the Olympic marathon, which was held on a 92-degree day but had just one water station halfway through the race. Many of the runners were forced to drop out. And the man who did cross the finish line first, Fred Lorz, was later found to have ridden in a car for three miles. What’s more, the athlete who ultimately won the gold medal did so by dosing himself with rat poison, and he had to be carried over the finish line.
Fred Schule’s competition wasn’t nearly as eventful. His first-place finish in the 110-meter hurdle race earned him a gold medal, and that very medal just sold for more than half a million dollars.
Fred Schule’s Gold Medal Goes Up For Auction
Nearly all of the gold medals awarded during the 1904 Olympic Games have been lost, Bobby Eaton, an Olympic specialist at the auction house RR Auction, told the Associated Press. “No one really knows exactly how many 1904 Olympic gold medals are still out there,” Eaton said. “What we do know is they’re exceedingly rare. Of the roughly 100 gold medals awarded in St. Louis, many have been lost to time or are tucked away in private collections and museums.”
RR AuctionFred Schule’s medal still has its original ribbon and leather case.
In January 2025, Fred Schule’s gold medal went up for auction at RR Auction’s sale of Olympics memorabilia. When the auction house received news of the medal, they were ecstatic:
“Collectors often strive to assemble complete sets of Olympic medals from every Games, and you simply can’t complete a set without a 1904 gold medal,” Eaton told Smithsonian Magazine. “Within our vast network of collectors, there are no others in private hands from a sanctioned 1904 event. That level of rarity — combined with its condition and provenance — explains why collectors were so determined to acquire it.”
One side of the century-old medal is inscribed with the words “Olympiad 1904” and depicts an athlete with a wreath. The other side features the Greek goddess Nike and the words “110 Meter Hurdle” and “St. Louis U.S.A.” The medal’s leather case and original ribbon are also still intact. While the 1904 medal is smaller than the medals awarded today, it is made of pure gold, while modern medals are mostly silver with gold plating.
Of course, the medal is not just prized for its precious metal content. It’s also a relic of the first Olympic Games held in the U.S. and the event that set the precedent for the three-tiered medal system still used today.
“These medals aren’t just about the competition — they’re a snapshot of the early days of the modern Olympics,” said Eaton. “To have one like this, in such exceptional condition, is truly remarkable and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors.”
After reading about the 1904 Olympic medal that sold for more than $500,000, go inside the story of Jesse Owens and his historic win at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Then, look through these incredible photos of the Summer Olympics throughout history.
