Greatest Shockers in Olympic Marathon History

The first Olympic marathon gold for Kenya was secured by Vanderlei de Lima losing his lead due to spectator interference, only for him to recover and win bronze while Kenya took the top two spots, marking a historic shift in African dominance.

Italy's Gelindo Bordin, largely unknown outside Europe, defeated the heavily favored Brazilian Carlos Lopes to win gold in Seoul, shocking the athletic world with a tactical masterclass and a new Olympic record time.

In the first Olympic women's marathon, Joan Benoit won gold despite being ill with the flu during the race. Her victory was significant not just for her performance but for the controversy surrounding favorite Grete Waitz finishing fourth.

Entering Rio 2016, Kipchoge had never won an Olympic marathon, and the Kenyan team was expected to sweep. Instead, Kipchoge secured the gold, ending a long drought for Kenya in the individual event and silencing doubts about his longevity.

Although a favorite, Lasse Virén's victory was an upset in terms of his previous Olympic history. He had no prior marathon experience and stunned the world by winning the 5000m and 10,000m in 1972, then repeating the feat in the marathon in 1976.

While not a gold upset, Haile Gebrselassie losing the gold to Gezahegne Abera was a major surprise. The global icon had dominated distance running for years, making his second-place finish a shocking deviation from his usual Olympic supremacy.

Australian Robert de Castella won gold on home soil, a massive upset given that the field included world-record holders like Carlos Lopes. His victory marked Australia's first marathon gold and cemented his status as a national hero.

While she didn't win Olympic gold, her near-victory and consistent top finishes in the 1990s often saw her overshadowed by more marketed athletes, making her Olympic performances underrated moments of pure endurance against stronger fields.

Note: This refers to his Olympic journey where he consistently finished just off the podium. His 2014 NYC win was the culmination of years of being an underrated contender in Olympics, finally achieving major marathon glory post-Olympic cycles.

Paul Tergat, the man who broke Haile Gebrselassie's world record, was the favorite in Sydney but finished sixth. His failure to convert his marathon potential into Olympic gold remains one of the biggest disappointments, highlighting the unpredictability of the event.

Ethiopia's Belayneh Dinsamo won silver in the 10,000m but stunned the marathon world by taking silver in the marathon in Seoul, behind only Gelindo Bordin. His performance announced Ethiopia's future dominance in long-distance running.

In a chaotic, hot race in Rio, Diana Yechego of Bahrain won gold in a sprint finish, defeating world-class favorites. Her victory was unexpected as she was not considered a top-tier medal contender prior to the race.

Yoshimi Ozaki won silver in the first women's Olympic marathon, a significant achievement as the event was new. Her performance helped legitimize the women's marathon and paved the way for future Japanese success in the sport.

Although he won gold in 2008, Bekele's transition from track to marathon was unexpected. His victory in Beijing shocked many who believed his track specialization would hinder him in the grueling Olympic marathon distance.

In the era of Ethiopian/African dominance later, Sonoshita's silver medal for Japan was a major upset. He represented the peak of Japanese marathon prowess before the global shift, achieving a remarkable result against strong Kenyan and Ethiopian fields.

Sergey Popov of the Soviet Union took silver in Rome, a rare non-African, non-Japanese podium finish in that era. His performance was a surprise to Western spectators who were not yet accustomed to Eastern European marathon excellence.

Dutch runner Erik Keijser finished fourth in 1952, narrowly missing a medal. His performance was an upset in the sense that European runners were beginning to challenge the Ethiopian and Kenyan rise, though the podium remained mixed.

While not an Olympic medalist, his journey to qualify for the 1984 and 1988 Olympics as an Eritrean refugee was a story of immense underdog status. His presence in the Olympic village highlighted the sport's capacity to surprise with personal narratives.

Lornah Kiplagat was a strong contender but did not finish due to injury. Her absence allowed for unexpected podium finishes, highlighting how the withdrawal of a top European star can create an upset outcome in the final standings.

While Derartu Tulu won gold in 2000, her earlier Olympic performances were underrated. She transitioned from track to marathon, and her silver in 2000 was part of a broader narrative of her versatility, often overlooked in favor of her single marathon gold.