Ethiopia also became the first nation to have two medalists in the men's marathon in the same Games since South Africa did it in 1912, as Tesfaye Tola took bronze.

Kenya won its third men's marathon medal in four Games with Erick Wainaina's silver.

Khalid Khannouchi of Morocco had set the world record in 1999, but earlier in 2000 had changed citizenship to the United States.

Each National Olympic Committee was permitted to enter up to three athletes that had run 2:14:00 or faster during the qualification period.

The marathon distance of 26 miles, 385 yards was run over a point-to-point route starting at the North Sydney Oval and finishing at the Olympic Stadium.