The race itself provided some of the most enduring images of Olympic competition - the 5ft 2in Italian athlete Dorando Pietri entered the stadium in the lead .
Was so exhausted athlete collapsed several times and ran the wrong way around the track .
The race itself provided some of the most enduring images of Olympic competition - the 5ft 2in Italian athlete Dorando Pietri entered the stadium in the lead but was so exhausted he collapsed several times and ran the wrong way around the track .