Athletics at the 1924 Paris Summer Games:

Ville Ritola was the favorite and took the lead from the start. A top distance runner who was overshadowed by his countryman, Paavo Nurmi, Ritola did not have good technique but used his running strength to easily win the race. No world record existed as the IAAF would not establish one until 1954, but the bronze medalist, Paul Bontemps, had the best mark on record, having run 9:33.4 a few weeks before in Paris. Ritola narrowly missed that mark. The sixth-place finisher, Evelyn Montague, was featured in the movie Chariots of Fire as the close friend of Harold Abrahams in college. Montague is shown in the movie running in this race. He is also called Aubrey in the movie while he went by Evelyn.