Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon

There were few favorites in the event. The race started at an Olympic stadium and after 3 1/2 laps of the track they started on the out and back course through Atlanta. There was a large group of about 60 in front. It was not until mile 15 that things started to get stirred up. The South Africans made a wall at the front and proceeded to increase the pace. They were joined by Lee Bong-Ju. The race continued as such until mile 17. Josia Thugwane made a move and was joined by Lee Bong-Ju. Meanwhile, Erick Wainaina joined the two in front. The three switched leads several times until Thugwane made a move outside Olympic stadium. He took through the tunnel while Lee Bong-Ju passed the Kenyan. It was the closest finish in Olympic history but Thugwane maintained his lead in the last mile to take the gold medallion in 2:12:36. Lee Bong-Ju took silver and Wainaina bronze.

This was the 23rd appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. Returning runners from the 1992 marathon included bronze medalist Stephan Freigang of Germany, fifth-place finisher Salvatore Bettiol of Italy, eighth-place finisher Hiromi Taniguchi of Japan, and ninth-place finisher Diego García of Spain. Martín Fiz of Spain was the reigning world champion. Belayneh Dinsamo of Ethiopa was the world record holder, but that record had been set 8 years previously. As in 1992, there was "no dominant male marathoner entering the 1996 Olympics and the race was considered wide-open."[4]

Afghanistan, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Mauritius, Moldova, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen each made their first appearance in Olympic men's marathons. The United States made its 22nd appearance, most of any nation, having missed only the boycotted 1980 Games.

As all Olympic marathons, the competition was a single race. The marathon distance of 26 miles, 385 yards was run over an out-and-back route starting and finishing at the Olympic Stadium. The course generally followed that of the Atlanta Marathon.[4]

These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1996 Summer Olympics.

World record	Belayneh Dinsamo (ETH)	2:06:50	Rotterdam, Netherlands	17 April 1988
Olympic record	Carlos Lopes (POR)	2:09:21	Los Angeles, United States	12 August July 1984

No new world or Olympic bests were set during the competition. The following national records were established during the competition:

Nation	Athlete	Round	Time
Yemen	Mohamed Al-Saadi	Final	2:40:41

The Olympic marathon, usually scheduled for afternoons or evenings, began early in the morning in 1996 due to the anticipated heat and humidity of summer in Atlanta. The temperature by about 10 a.m. local time, as runners finished, was approximately 80° F. (26° C.) with 80% humidity.[4]

All times are Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4)

• 1995 Men's World Championships Marathon
• 1996 Marathon Year Ranking
• 1997 Men's World Championships Marathon

• (in English) Official Report
• (in French) Marathon Info