The leader of the Olympic Marathon was charged by a spectator and pushed into the crowd. The assailant appeared to be an adult male who wore clasic Greek garb and had a placard or sandwich board covering his upper chest. Vandelei Lima of Brazil was leading the race at about one hour fifty seven minute point when a man ran from the far side of the street and held Lima as he pushed/threw him into the crowd. The assailant was subdued by spectators in the crowd and Lima was able to rejoin the race.