Irishman sabotages Athens finale

ATHENS 2004: It was designed to retrace Olympic marathon history, and it ended up reliving it - writing another tale of incredible drama into the most celebrated race in distance running. And in the process bringing disgrace on an Irish man.

So now and forever it seems the Athens Olympic marathon will be remembered for the disturbing incident of the former Irish priest who pushed the race leader into the crowds about four miles from the finish. Neil Horan, the 57-year-old Kerry native now living in London, has become one of the most infamous figures in Olympic history.

Previously known for his dangerous incursion on to the British Grand Prix course in July of last year, Horan has done something more inexcusable. Shortly before the 22-mile mark when the race leader Vanderlei de Lima of Brazil seemed destined for victory, Horan made his untimely appearance from the far side of the road.

He pushed de Lima into the crowds that lined the streets, the Brazilian crashing over hands first into the stunned onlookers. Horan was dragged away, but not quick enough for the sign tied around him not to be noticed. "The second coming is near, says the Bible." Eight words that are part of the most outrageous moments of any Olympics. Under those words read "Grand Prix Priest" - referring to Horan's similarly antics in Silverstone.

Again he was dressed in a traditional Irish dancing costume.

With a look of disbelief de Lima tried to recover his composure and race on. By then his legs were wobbling and in truth he looked an unlikely winner, yet he was passed just over two miles later by the Italian Stefano Baldini, who jettisoned away to win the gold medal in two hours 10 minutes and 55 seconds.

Almost simultaneously de Lima was passed by the Eritrea-born American Mebrahtom Keflezighi, who ran on to claim the silver in 2:11.29. Back down the road the 35-year-old de Lima looked a broken man, yet somehow he rekindled his spirit. When he entered the old Panathinaiko Stadium the 37,000-crowd rose in unison and welcomed the hero of this race. He had at least secured the bronze medal, clocking 2:12.11.

"I could have won it were it not for that incident," he claimed afterwards. "I just cannot believe what has happened. I lost the gold medal in that moment but I was afraid because I didn't know whether he was armed. I was very shocked. I was glad for the bronze medal but I was giving everything for the gold when he attacked. I'm not physically hurt but it threw me out of rhythm. I'm sure I would have won the gold were it not for this crazy idiot."

There is no estimating the impact of such a frenzied, cruel act on the leader of the Olympic marathon, but the way Baldini finished suggested the Italian would have won anyway.

At the time though he would have had no idea of the ill-fortune inflicted upon the Brazilian. He was never seen as a real threat for gold but Lima had gone for it. At halfway he was 14 seconds up and surged through the hilly and thoroughly demanding period of between 13 and 20 miles.

At the 18-mile point he was 40 seconds clear and looking the part, yet still seen as a complete outsider. He'd been 47th in the Atlanta Olympic marathon and 75th four years ago in Sydney.

At the 21-mile marker, the last before his cruel fate intervened, de Lima was 28 seconds clear and obviously tiring. Yet by then the pre-race favourite and world record-holder Paul Tergat of Kenya had dropped away from the leaders. If de Lima could hold his form he just might do it.

The television cameras following de Lima had briefly moved away from the Brazilian, but when returning they showed him emerging from the crowd of bemused onlookers. The Olympic marathon is no stranger to such bizarre tales of the unexpected but this had the makings of a real tragedy.

Immediately the replay came up on screen and only then did Horan's act of needless and vengeful protest become evident. But it had also been unstoppable. Part of the attraction of the Olympic marathon is that onlookers get to line the streets, and having crash barriers along the entire 26-mile route was always impractical.

Originally born in Scartaglin in Kerry, Horan was charged with one count of aggravated trespassing for his death-defying act of protest in Silverstone. But it's unlikely he'll get away so softly this time. He was taken into custody by Greek police and could be facing a far more serious charge than a year ago.

All this distorted what had been a most memorable Olympic marathon. Britain's John Brown took fourth, as he did in Sydney, where Tergat ended up 10th.

But it certainly finished the Athens Olympic Games with an exclamation mark. Later inside the main Olympic Stadium they handed out the last three medals and extinguished the flame and formally closed proceedings on the past 17 days. The reaction to Horan's act of stupidity will only now come home.