A former Marathon runner was awarded for his sporting spirit after being denied Olympic gold by a fan.
Brazilian athlete Vanderlei de Lima missed out on first place within the males’s Marathon on the 2004 Athens Video games.
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Lima had been main the race by round 25 seconds after 22 miles within the Greek capital.
Nevertheless, he misplaced treasured seconds after a spectator ran onto the course and pushed him in direction of the gang.
The intruder later turned out to be notorious former priest Neil Horan, who had beforehand disrupted the 2003 British Grand Prix.
In the meantime, Lima was helped by one other fan, who stepped in to assist free him so he may proceed.
The harm had already been achieved, although, with helpful seconds and rhythm misplaced because of the incident.
In consequence, Lima later surrendered his lead because the end line approached.
Italy’s Stefano Baldini and American athlete Meb Keflezighi each overtook their rival within the closing miles.
Nevertheless, Lima remained all smiles as he entered the Panathenaic Stadium for the ultimate metres of the race – and nonetheless made historical past as the primary Brazilian to win a medal of any color on the Olympics.
Regardless of having to accept bronze, he mentioned: “Once I entered the stadium, I used to be so completely happy that I had already forgotten the episode. It’s bronze nevertheless it means gold.”
His angle noticed him awarded the Pierre de Coubertin Medal on the finish of the Video games for exemplifying true sporting spirit.
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The award pays tribute to those that contribute to the promotion of the Olympic values.
Lima was cited for exhibiting each the values and honest play after accepting bronze after the incident with Horan.
It might show to be his greatest efficiency on the Olympics as he gained his solely medal throughout three Video games.
Previous to ending third in Athens, he had appeared at each Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 however failed to put larger than forty seventh.
In addition to being awarded the Pierre de Coubertin Medal, Lima was additionally handed an historic honour on the 2016 Rio Olympics.
He was chosen to gentle the Olympic cauldron through the opening ceremony on the Maracana.
The 2-time Pan American Video games champion had retired from aggressive Marathon working aged 39 in 2009.
His profession additionally included wins within the Tokyo Worldwide and Hamburg Marathons.