(04 August 1996; Day 16 of the Olympic Games)
THUGWANE Wins Marathon
Athletics
(Atlanta, GA) -- 122 names were declared for the marathon, which started
in the Olympic Stadium at 7:00 on a humid morning.
Race notes:
- After the initial laps the Tanzanians Ikaji SALIM and Julius SUMAYE led the field out of the stadium.
- 10 minutes into the race the Poles Leszek BEBLO and Grzegorz GAJDUS led the field, followed by Sean WADE (NZL), who soon took over,
- 1st 5km 16:14 for large pack - 10km 31:51 WADE, Peter FONSECA (CAN) and others.
- Amongst the big names prominent early on were Steve MONEGHETTI (AUS) and 1991 World Champion Hiromi TANIGUCHI (JPN).
- 40 minutes in - and the two Poles surged ahead again and were joined by world record holder Belayneh DINSAMO (ETH) 10 meters ahead of the pack.
- By 15km in 47:36 (Lawrence PEU (RSA)) these men were back in a large pack.
- Laurence PEU (RSA), Tharcisse GASHAKA (BDI), Antonio PINTO (POR), Richard NERURKAR (GBR) and Eric WAINAINA (KEN) were also prominent - and at 55:45 German SILVA (MEX) moved to the front.
- At 1 hour Tahar MANSOURI (TUN) and GASHAKA were at the head of the field - but the large pack showed that no body had yet tried a significant move.
- 20k was reached in 1:04:06, after which MONEGHETTI edged to the front. Halfway came in 1:07:36.
- At 1:13 Luis dos SANTOS (BRA) showed ahead, then the three South Africans Gert THYS, Josiah THUGWANE and PEU. The favorites Martin FIZ (ESP) and Dionicio CERON (MEX) were in close attendance.
- 25k 1:19:54 for CHIMUSASA, de LIMA, dos SANTOS, THYS etc - still with a big pack together.
At 1:22:50 the three South Africans and LEE Bong-ju (KOR) surged to open up a 15m lead, before being reeled back.
- 30k: 1:35:24 the leading group comprised 22 men - . THUGWANE moved ahead soon afterwards and the pack began to break up as he opened up a lead.
- 1:41 THUGWANE was joined by LEE. - and by 1:42 they were about 50m ahead of WAINAINA with FIZ 4th and German SILVA following.
- 1:45 THUGWANE and LEE - then 40m to WAINAINA then 10m to SILVA, FIZ and CHIMUSASA. Those 3 were soon joined by THYS.
- 1:46:30 THUGWANE went away from LEE with WAINAINA closing... to go past LEE at 1:47:18.
- At 1:48:36 WAINAINA went into the lead, but THUGWANE held on to him - these two moving away from LEE.
- 35k: 1:50:35 WAINAINA and THUGWANE, 3rd LEE, 4th FIZ, 5th SILVA
- THUGWANE pushed on, but WAINAINA held on and LEE narrowed the gap to catch the top two at 1:56:30.
- At 2 hours THUGWANE led by a few meters from LEE with WAINAINA 10m behind. These three continued to battle and by 2:02 were together again, with FIZ an isolated 4th. 5th SILVA, 6th NERUKAR.
- NERURKAR passed SILVA at 2:04:30.
- THUGWANE, LEE, WAINAINA was the order at 2:06:09 for 40k. Then LEE made a move on the last hill of the course, but the other two held on and THUGWANE was soon back in the lead.
- 2:08:30 WAINAINA was dropped and then THUGWANE drew away from LEE. At 2:09:19 WAINAINA passed LEE.
- 2:10 THUGWANE had a 15m lead.
- THUGWANE entered the stadium with a lead of 20m from LEE, with WAINAINA 4m
back.
THUGWANE became South Africa's first Olympic champion at athletics since their return to international competition - and emulated Ken McARTHUR, the 1912 marathon champion.
1. THUGWANE 2:12:36; 2, LEE 2:12:38, 3, WAINAINA 2:12:44, 4, FIZ 2:13:20, 5. NERURKAR 2:13:39, 6. SILVA 2:14:29, 7. MONEGHETTI 2:124:35, 8. PAREDES 2:14:55.
The 3-second gap between 1st and 2nd is the closest in Olympic history
Olympic Factoid |
An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games. |