John Joseph "Johnny" Hayes (April 10, 1886 - August 25, 1965) was an American athlete, winner of the marathon race at the 1908 Summer Olympics.

Johnny Hayes

Born in New York City to a family of Irish emmigrants, Johnny Hayes is probably best known for winning the controversial marathon race at the London Olympics. He was also last American to win Olympic marathon gold prior to Frank Shorter in 1972.

Hayes started his athletics career with a fifth place at the 1906 Boston Marathon. In the next year he got third place at Boston and was a winner of the Yonkers Marathon. In 1908 he gained the second place in the Boston Marathon, and thus qualifying to the Olympic Games held in London.

The British Olympic Committee had wanted to start the race in front of Windsor Castle and finish in front of the royal reviewing stand at the Wimbledon Stadium. As a result, the distance was 42 km and 195 m. It took until 1921 for the IAAF to codify that distance for the official length of marathon. Prior to this, races were usually about 25 miles.

At the race itself, Dorando Pietri from Italy was the first to enter the stadium. But Pietri took a wrong turn, collapsed, was helped up by doctors, wobbled and fell three more times before being half-carried across the finish line by race officials. Caught up in the drama of Pietri's agony, the cheering crowd hardly noticed that he was declared the winner just as second place runner, Hayes, entered the stadium. Pietri was disqualified after the US officials filed the protest, saying Pietri had been aided by spectators. Despite that, Pietri collected much more fame than Hayes in London, when Queen Alexandra rewarded him a special gold cup.

After the dramatic Olympic battle between Pietri and Hayes, public interest was such that a match race was organized by professional promoters in November, 1908 at Madison Square Garden. The race was won by Pietri by 75 yards. A second match race was held on March 15, 1909 and again Pietri won. Both Pietri and Hayes turned professional after the Olympics, and achieved a great fame.

Hayes was a trainer for the US 1912 Olympic team. Later he taught a physical education and was a food broker. Johnny Hayes died in Englewood, New Jersey.