To honor Felix Carvajal, known as “El Andarín Carvajal” we named our B&B network with his mame.

Andarín Carvajal in the marathon in the Olympic Games of St. Louis.

Félix de la Caridad Carvajal y Soto, also known as Andarín Carvajal (March 18th, 1857 – January 27th, 1949) was a famous Cuban athlete, who participated in the marathon of the Olympic Games of St. Louis, 1904.

He was born in San Antonio de los Baños and died in Havana City. He always lived and died in absolutely poverty. During his life, he became famous for his resistance. He worked as a casual postman in Christmas, public festivities and vacations. He liked so much to walk. He also worked as a town crier and he used to be paid for carrying signs and posters on his body advertising products. Before the Olympic Games of St. Louis, he walked round the streets and parks of Havana City wearing a vest in which he asked for money to help a Cuban athlete to pay a ticket to go to compete in the marathon.

Finally, he could collect some money, but when he arrived in New Orleans the entertainments, swindlers and women left him without money so quickly. He had to continue the rest of the journey on foot from New Orleans to St. Louis, about 700 miles, more than 1100 km. Many people helped him throughout the way and finally he could compete. Once in the start line he showed up wearing not suitable clothing for the race. He was wearing long sleeves and long pants, besides the boots he wore as a postman. Somebody cut out the sleeves and the pants and the race started. When he was in the lead he was starving because he had been more than 40 hours without eating. Suddenly, he past in front of an orchard and he saw an apple tree and he took three apples that were unripe. They didn´t agree with him, producing him a strong stomachache. He had to stop and he finished the race in fourth place.

It´s very likely if he had eaten and had worn sport clothing similar to the athletes at that time he would have won the marathon easily.

There is a book that tells the vicissitudes he had to face to compete in the Olympic Games and the development of the race. The book is entitled “Félix Carvajal, marathon runner”, and it won the sport novel prize from “ Don Balón” magazine.

In 2004, a race and a popular long walk of 15 km were celebrated in San Antonio de los Baños in memory of the centenary of his participation in the Olympic Games and the 55 years of his death.

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