| Culver Lucias Hastedt | |
| Nickname: | King of the Handicaps |
| Sport: | Track and field |
| Event: | Sprints, broad jump |
| Club: | Missouri Athletic Club |
| Collegeteam: | Christian Brothers College |
| Birth Date: | 1883 10, df=yes[1] |
| Birth Place: | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Death Date: | [2] |
| Death Place: | St. Louis, Missouri |
Culver Lucias Hastedt (October 16, 1884 – November 2, 1966) was an American sprinter and Olympic gold medalist in 1904. He was known as "The King of the Handicaps," winning gold medals in the 60-yard dash, the 100-yard dash and the running broad jump at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri.[3] Also, in the Olympic Open Meet, he won the 100-yard dash and won second place in the broad jump.[4]
In the 1904 Olympic Games, "handicap" did not refer to any type of physical impairment. Instead, these were events in which some athletes, often amateurs, were given a slight advantage in position or location. These matches were additional track and field events that allowed lesser athletes the opportunity to compete head-to-head with superior professional Olympic competitors by giving them an advantage that leveled the playing field. In this era, a "handicap" winner is somewhat similar to an amateur winner of a professional event.[4] In the 100-yard dash, Hastedt was given a 4-yard handicap, and in the 60-yard dash, he was given a 4-foot handicap.[3] His victory in the 100-yard dash was the first won by a St. Louis athlete.[3] The 1904 Olympics were also significant in that they were the first Olympics to be held in the United States.