Netherlander van der Weijden wins men´s 10-km marathon gold

Source: Xinhua | 08-21-2008 11:36

BEIJING, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Dutchman Maarten van der Meijden made a surprising last minute sprint at the men's open water race here Thursday, snatching the inaugural Olympic gold of 10-kilometer marathon swimming from Briton David Davies.

Maarten van der Weijden of the Netherlands competes during men's  marathon 10km of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games swimming event in Beijing,  China, Aug. 21, 2008. Maarten van der Weijden grabbed the gold medal.  (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

Davies, who had led the race during the most part of the two-hour grueling race, seemed to have secured his win before van der Meijden overtook him with an incredible sprint in the last 100 meters.

German swimmer Thomas Lurz won bronze.

Top favorite, three-time world champion, Russia's Vladimir Dyatchin received a red flag at the last lap and was disqualified from the race.

Maarten van der Weijden of the Netherlands  celebrates after men's marathon 10km of Beijing  2008 Olympic Games swimming event in Beijing,  China, Aug. 21, 2008. Maarten van der Weijden  grabbed the gold medal. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

Editor:Yang Lina