did you guys see the marathon leader from Brazil leading and then get attacked ?

trytrytry · Aug 29, 2004

one of the most bizzare and sad events in Olympic history, he was not physically hurt but this guy (fan, protestor dresseed really wierd) ran on the course our of nowhere right on the road (the brazil guy was in front by 40 seconds and controlling the race). Grabbed the runner, pushed him all the way into the line of people on the side of the course before he broke free with the hlp of police. I a couple of more miles he was then passed by the Italian and the AMerican and hung on for Bronze. Bizzare moment. Turn on NBC.

Journeyman · Aug 29, 2004

WTF!!?? Unreal...would he have likely won?

trytrytry · Aug 29, 2004

i have no idea because I know nothing of the skill of these runners, he looked great was out in front and that cost him big time. What a story this will be, he will be 100X more famous than the guy from Italy who won!

trytrytry · Aug 29, 2004

this happened in the last 6 miles or so of the race as best I recall.

Journeyman · Aug 29, 2004

The announcers acting as if its no big deal...matter of factly stating 'anything can happen' in a marathon,lol...I'd have been furious!!!

KennyB · Aug 29, 2004

I hope the guy got the shit kicked out of him because if I was there I would have inflicted a serious flogging of the mf.

After it happened I wanted to see the Brazil guy win. Was happy to see that he at least took a bronze.

trytrytry · Aug 29, 2004

You know in sports when the announcers always say "Well this thing is not over Anything can happen here" and your at home thinking "No this thing is over"

I guess from this point forward we can all agree ".........Anything can happen"

trytrytry · Aug 29, 2004

Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece -- A man dressed in a traditional Greek costume bolted from the crowd and grabbed the leader of the marathon Sunday, about five miles from the finish.

The intruder wrestled Vanderlei Lima of Brazil to the curb and into the crowd. Police tackled the intruder and freed Lima, who was able to get back into the race. But he lost several seconds, and eventually was overtaken by Stefano Baldini of Italy.

The intruder was arrested. His name was not immediately available.

trytrytry · Aug 29, 2004

Former European champion Stefano Baldini of Italy overtook Brazilian Vanderlei de Lima 1.2 miles from the finish to win the Olympic men's marathon on Sunday.

De Lima survived a clash with an intruder who dashed on to the course after about 23 miles of the 26-mile, 285-yard race and bundled Lima into the crowd.

The Brazilian managed to extricate himself but was clearly shaken, throwing his arms up in the air in despair as he ran back on the course from Marathon to the Panathinaiko stadium, venue for the 1896 Games.

Baldini clocked an unofficial two hours, 10 minutes, 54 seconds. American Meb Keflezighi was second with de Lima, who received the biggest cheer from the crowd, in third.