Tamirat Tola produced a stunning performance to win the Olympic men's marathon in a new record time of 2:06:26, defeating fellow Ethiopians Kenenisa Bekele and Eliud Kipchoge in the process.
Tamirat, who was a late addition to the Ethiopian team after Sisay Lemma withdrew due to injury, seized his unexpected opportunity with both hands.
"I was the reserve on the Ethiopian team, but when Sisay had injuries, then I had a chance to represent him," Tamirat said after the race. "I was fully prepared and knew I could fulfill my dream. This is the Olympics and it is not easy to win the Olympic Games, not at all. I am very proud, very happy."
In a dramatic turn of events, the legendary Kenenisa Bekele could only manage a 39th place finish in 2:12:24, while two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya dropped out of the race midway through.
Tamirat's record-breaking performance was all the more impressive given the star-studded field he faced. Belgium's Bashir Abdi took the silver medal in 2:06:47, with Kenya's Benson Kipruto claiming bronze in 2:07:00.
The 32-year-old Ethiopian's victory marked his country's first Olympic men's marathon gold since Gezahegne Abera's triumph in Sydney 2000.