Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima never got his gold medal moment at the Olympics, but lighting the Games caldron on Friday night must have felt even better.
Cordeiro de Lima, a marathon bronze medalist at Athens in 2004, was the man chosen for the final leg of the Olympic torch relay at the Maracana Stadium, after Brazilian soccer legend Pele declined the role due to his failing health.
He took the torch from women’s basketball silver medalist and world champion Hortencia Marcari, climbed a flight of steps and set the caldron alight, greeted by huge roars from his countrymen.
The runner was leading the marathon race 12 years ago but saw his bid for gold disrupted 4 miles from the finish line by Irish intruder Cornelius Horan, who entered his path and grappled him aside.
Despite continuing to race, Cordeiro de Lima’s momentum had been snapped and he was overtaken by Italy’s Stefano Baldini and the USA's Meb Keflazeghi, eventually settling for third.
The Brazilian’s positive attitude despite being denied victory endeared him to an international audience. He danced his danced his way over the finishing line while grinning from ear to ear, and was awarded the de Coubertin prize for sportsmanship at the end of those Games.
Pele had been widely expected to appear to light the caldron but revealed in a statement during Friday afternoon that he could not do so.
“I am not physically able to attend the opening of the Olympics,” Pele said. “Only God is more important than my health.”
Almost immediately, it was reported by several Brazilian outlets that former French Open tennis champion Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten would be called in. However, Kuerten brought the torch into the stadium, barely holding back tears, before handing it off to Marcari.
That's a really beautiful effect pic.twitter.com/gqACPXI4Lq
— Ross Tucker (@Scienceofsport) August 6, 2016
