Samuel Wansiru already had made a name for himself in the heady world of Kenyan distance running. Now he's made history.
The 21-year-old Wansiru pulled away over the final few kilometers on Sunday to become the first Kenyan to win an Olympic marathon - and he did it faster than anyone ever has.
Wansiru negotiated the 42.15-kilometer (26.2-mile) course through Beijing streets in bright morning sunshine in an Olympic record of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 32 seconds.
Kenyans had twice won men's marathon silver, most recently in 2000, but never a gold.
Just across the line, Wansiru kneeled and crossed himself several times. He had just broken the Olympic mark of 2:09.21 set by Carlos Lopes of Portugal in the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
As Wansiru was still on one knee, Gharib crossed the line for the silver.
Wansiru won the Fukuoka International Marathon in Japan last December and was runner-up at the London Marathon in April.
Reigning world champion Luke Kibet of Kenya stayed with the leaders through the early stages but fell back and finally pulled out of the race shortly past the halfway mark. He later said he had a stomach problem.
World record holder Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia decided not to run the race because of concerns about Beijing's notorious air pollution. But after an overnight thunderstorm, a glorious blue sky greeted the final day of these games.
The race began at the edge of Tiananmen Square, then wound around the Temple of Heaven before turning northward toward the Olympic Green and the Bird's Nest, where colorful dancers, drummers and cyclists entertained the crowd as it awaited the runners.
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