THE STORY
On August 29, 2004, during the men's marathon at the Athens Olympics, Brazilian runner Vanderlei de Lima was leading when Irish spectator Cornelius Horan attacked him near the 35 km mark. De Lima lost approximately 15–20 seconds but finished third with a time of 2:12:11, earning the bronze medal. He was later awarded the Pierre de Coubertin Medal for sportsmanship. (history.com)
TEAMS / PEOPLE:
Vanderlei de Lima, Athens Olympics
WHY IT MATTERS
The incident highlighted the vulnerability of athletes to spectator interference and underscored the importance of sportsmanship in the face of adversity.