Samuel Wanjiru pulled away over the final few miles become the first Kenyan in the storied running history of that nation to win an Olympic marathon.
The 21-year-old negotiated the 26.2-mile (42.15-kilometer) course through the Beijing streets in bright Sunday morning sunshine in an Olympic record of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 32 seconds.
Jaouad Gharib of Morocco won silver in 2:07.16. Ethiopian Tsegay Kebede took the bronze in 2:10.00.