sporties

+--------------- Bizarre Sporting Failures ----------------+  

Wallace Williams (Virgin Islands) ran in the 1979 Pan-American Games marathon, but was so slow that by the time he reached the stadium it was closed and everyone had gone home.  

Reigning Tour de France champion Pedro Delgado of Spain only finished third in 1989 after losing three minutes at the start signing autographs.   (idiot deserved to lose...)

Preparing for a bout at the 1992 New York Golden Glove Championships, boxer Daniel Caruso psyched himself up by pounding his gloves into his face. In doing so, he broke his nose and was declared unfit to box.  

Batting at Kalgoorie, Australia, in the 1970s cricketer Stan Dawson was hit by a delivery which ignited a box of matches in his pocket. As he tried to beat down the flames, he was run out.   (...wtf?!)

Russian athlete Ivanon Vyacheslav was so thrilled to win a medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics that he hurled the medal high into the air in jubilation. Unfortunately it came down in Lake Wendouree where, despite a frantic search by Vyacheslav and his teammates, it remains to this day.  

At the 1929 American Football Rosebowl, California center Roy Riegels ran nearly half the length of the field with the ball - but in the wrong direction. 'Wrong-Way Riegels' became an overnight celebrity, receiving an offer of marriage in which he and his bride would walk up the aisle instead of down!