Any flying machine were they the only ones ? Was anyone else close ?
Of course.
The first powered flight was probably acheived by Lawrence Hargrave in Australia, he also lifted himself off the ground with a chain of four box kites (which he invented). His work on rotary engines and aerofoils was also shared with the Wright brothers and was used by them.
But the New Zealanders Richard Pearse was also flying around the same time as the Wright brothers.