The Women's Marathon at the 2008 Summer Olympics

2008 Summer Olympics

The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...

 took place on August 17 around an urban circuit specifically designed for the competition at Beijing

Beijing

Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...

, and finished in the Beijing National Stadium

Beijing National Stadium

Beijing National Stadium, also known officially as the National Stadium, or colloquially as the Bird's Nest , is a stadium in Beijing, China. The stadium was designed for use throughout the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.-History:...

. The qualifying standards were 2:37.00 (A standard) and 2:42.00 (B standard). There were a total number of 82 competitors from 42 nations.

The winner was Constantina Diṭă-Tomescu of Romania

Romania

Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...

 who at one point took a lead of over a minute and maintained it ahead of the chasing pack all the way into the stadium. She completed the marathon in a time of 2:26:44. In second place was Catherine Ndereba

Catherine Ndereba

Wincatherine Nyambura Ndereba is a Kenyan marathon runner. She has twice won the marathon at the World Championships in Athletics and won silver medals in the Olympics in 2004 and 2008. She is also a four-time winner of the Boston Marathon...

 of Kenya

Kenya

Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...

 who completed the race in 2:27:06, closely followed by bronze medalist Zhou Chunxiu

Zhou Chunxiu

Zhou Chunxiu is a Chinese marathon runner.She competed at the 2004 Olympic Games, finishing the marathon in 33rd place. She placed fourth in the marathon at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki. She won the marathon gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar...

 of China

People's Republic of China

China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

 who finished in a time of 2:27:07.

World record holder Paula Radcliffe

Paula Radcliffe

Paula Jane Radcliffe, MBE is an English long-distance runner. She is the current women's world record holder in the marathon with her time of 2:15:25 hours...

 of Great Britain

Great Britain

Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...

 took part in the race despite injury problems that bothered her throughout the previous year. However, she did not feature for much of the race and had to pause and do some exercises to rid herself of cramps at one point. She then proceeded to finish the marathon in 23rd place in a time of 2:32:38.

Medalists

Abbreviations

• All times shown are in hours:minutes:seconds

  DNS	did not start
  NM	no mark
  OR	olympic record
  WR	world record
  AR	area record
  NR	national record
  PB	personal best
  SB	season best

Records

Standing records prior to the 2008 Summer Olympics
World Record		2:15:25	April 13, 2003	London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... , United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Olympic Record		2:23:14	September 24, 2000	Sydney, Australia
Season Best		2:22:38	January 5, 2008	Xiamen Xiamen Xiamen , also known as Amoy , is a major city on the southeast coast of the People's Republic of China. It is administered as a sub-provincial city of Fujian province with an area of and population of 3.53 million... , PR China

Intermediates

Intermediate	Athlete	Country	Mark
10 KM	1. Liz Yelling Liz Yelling Elizabeth Anne Yelling is a British long-distance runner currently based in Poole, Dorset...		36:10
	2. Živilė Balčiūnaitė Živile Balciunaite Živilė Balčiūnaitė is a Lithuanian long-distance runner. Balčiūnaitė won the marathon at the 2010 European Athletics Championship in Barcelona and finished 4th at the 2006 European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg...		+0:01
	3. Constantina Tomescu Constantina Tomescu Constantina Diţă , is a Romanian long-distance runner, who specializes mainly in the half marathon and marathon....		s.t.
	4. Zhou Chunxiu Zhou Chunxiu Zhou Chunxiu is a Chinese marathon runner.She competed at the 2004 Olympic Games, finishing the marathon in 33rd place. She placed fourth in the marathon at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki. She won the marathon gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar...		s.t.
	5. Souad Aït Salem Souad Aït Salem Souad Aït Salem is an Algerian long-distance runner who specializes mainly in the half marathon and marathon. She was born in Mecheria. She won gold in the 10,000 metres at the 2000 African Championships in Athletics and the 2005 Mediterranean Games. Salem also won the gold in the half marathon at...		s.t.
20 KM	1. Constantina Tomescu Constantina Tomescu Constantina Diţă , is a Romanian long-distance runner, who specializes mainly in the half marathon and marathon....		1:11:27
	2. Živilė Balčiūnaitė Živile Balciunaite Živilė Balčiūnaitė is a Lithuanian long-distance runner. Balčiūnaitė won the marathon at the 2010 European Athletics Championship in Barcelona and finished 4th at the 2006 European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg...		+0:01
	3. Paula Radcliffe Paula Radcliffe Paula Jane Radcliffe, MBE is an English long-distance runner. She is the current women's world record holder in the marathon with her time of 2:15:25 hours...		s.t.
	4. Souad Aït Salem Souad Aït Salem Souad Aït Salem is an Algerian long-distance runner who specializes mainly in the half marathon and marathon. She was born in Mecheria. She won gold in the 10,000 metres at the 2000 African Championships in Athletics and the 2005 Mediterranean Games. Salem also won the gold in the half marathon at...		s.t.
	5. Zhou Chunxiu Zhou Chunxiu Zhou Chunxiu is a Chinese marathon runner.She competed at the 2004 Olympic Games, finishing the marathon in 33rd place. She placed fourth in the marathon at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki. She won the marathon gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar...		s.t.
30 KM	1. Constantina Tomescu Constantina Tomescu Constantina Diţă , is a Romanian long-distance runner, who specializes mainly in the half marathon and marathon....		1:45:04
	2. Martha Komu Martha Komu Martha Komu is a Kenyan runner who specialises in a marathon. She won the Paris Marathon in 2008 and finished 5th at the 2008 Summer Olympics.- Career :...		+0:57
	3. Zhou Chunxiu Zhou Chunxiu Zhou Chunxiu is a Chinese marathon runner.She competed at the 2004 Olympic Games, finishing the marathon in 33rd place. She placed fourth in the marathon at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki. She won the marathon gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar...		s.t.
	4. Irina Timofeyeva Irina Timofeyeva Irina Nikolayevna Timofeyeva is a Russian long-distance runner who specializes in running the marathon. She won the Singapore Marathon in 2005 and the Paris Marathon in 2006. She ran for Russia at the 2008 Summer Olympics, placing 7th in the marathon race...		s.t.
	5. Zhu Xiaolin Zhu Xiaolin Zhu Xiaolin is a Chinese long-distance runner, who specialises in marathon running. She has won the Xiamen International Marathon and was third at the 2010 Rotterdam Marathon. She represented China at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was fourth in the women's marathon...		s.t.
40 KM	1. Constantina Tomescu Constantina Tomescu Constantina Diţă , is a Romanian long-distance runner, who specializes mainly in the half marathon and marathon....		2:19:07
	2. Zhou Chunxiu Zhou Chunxiu Zhou Chunxiu is a Chinese marathon runner.She competed at the 2004 Olympic Games, finishing the marathon in 33rd place. She placed fourth in the marathon at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki. She won the marathon gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar...		+1:00
	3. Zhu Xiaolin Zhu Xiaolin Zhu Xiaolin is a Chinese long-distance runner, who specialises in marathon running. She has won the Xiamen International Marathon and was third at the 2010 Rotterdam Marathon. She represented China at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was fourth in the women's marathon...		s.t.
	4. Catherine Ndereba Catherine Ndereba Wincatherine Nyambura Ndereba is a Kenyan marathon runner. She has twice won the marathon at the World Championships in Athletics and won silver medals in the Olympics in 2004 and 2008. She is also a four-time winner of the Boston Marathon...		+1:01
	5. Martha Komu Martha Komu Martha Komu is a Kenyan runner who specialises in a marathon. She won the Paris Marathon in 2008 and finished 5th at the 2008 Summer Olympics.- Career :...		s.t.

s.t. - same time.

Results

Rank	Athlete	Country	Result	Notes
	Constantina Tomescu Constantina Tomescu Constantina Diţă , is a Romanian long-distance runner, who specializes mainly in the half marathon and marathon....		2:26:44	SB
	Catherine Ndereba Catherine Ndereba Wincatherine Nyambura Ndereba is a Kenyan marathon runner. She has twice won the marathon at the World Championships in Athletics and won silver medals in the Olympics in 2004 and 2008. She is also a four-time winner of the Boston Marathon...		2:27:06
	Zhou Chunxiu Zhou Chunxiu Zhou Chunxiu is a Chinese marathon runner.She competed at the 2004 Olympic Games, finishing the marathon in 33rd place. She placed fourth in the marathon at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki. She won the marathon gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar...		2:27:07	SB
	Zhu Xiaolin Zhu Xiaolin Zhu Xiaolin is a Chinese long-distance runner, who specialises in marathon running. She has won the Xiamen International Marathon and was third at the 2010 Rotterdam Marathon. She represented China at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was fourth in the women's marathon...		2:27:16	SB
	Martha Komu Martha Komu Martha Komu is a Kenyan runner who specialises in a marathon. She won the Paris Marathon in 2008 and finished 5th at the 2008 Summer Olympics.- Career :...		2:27:23
	Mara Yamauchi Mara Yamauchi Mara Rosalind Yamauchi is a British long distance track, and road running athlete. She currently holds the second fastest time by a British woman over the marathon, behind the world-record holder, Paula Radcliffe....		2:27:29
	Irina Timofeyeva Irina Timofeyeva Irina Nikolayevna Timofeyeva is a Russian long-distance runner who specializes in running the marathon. She won the Singapore Marathon in 2005 and the Paris Marathon in 2006. She ran for Russia at the 2008 Summer Olympics, placing 7th in the marathon race...		2:27:31
	Lidia Simon Lidia Simon Lidia Slavuteanu-Simon is a Romanian long-distance runner. She has represented Romania on four consecutive occasions at Olympic level and is a six-time participant at the World Championships in Athletics....		2:27:51
	Souad Aït Salem Souad Aït Salem Souad Aït Salem is an Algerian long-distance runner who specializes mainly in the half marathon and marathon. She was born in Mecheria. She won gold in the 10,000 metres at the 2000 African Championships in Athletics and the 2005 Mediterranean Games. Salem also won the gold in the half marathon at...		2:28:29
10	Salina Jebet Kosgei		2:29:28
11	Živilė Balčiūnaitė Živile Balciunaite Živilė Balčiūnaitė is a Lithuanian long-distance runner. Balčiūnaitė won the marathon at the 2010 European Athletics Championship in Barcelona and finished 4th at the 2006 European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg...		2:29:33
12	Kim Kum-Ok Kim Kum-Ok Kim Kum-ok is a female long-distance runner from North Korea, who specialises in the half marathon and marathon events....		2:30:01	SB
13	Yurika Nakamura Yurika Nakamura is a Japanese long-distance runner. Nakamura grew up in the Hyōgo Prefecture.She finished seventh at the 2006 World Road Running Championships, helping the Japanese team win the bronze medal in the team competition. In 2008, she won the Nagoya Marathon in her marathon debut. In the 2008 Summer...		2:30:19
14	Anna Incerti Anna Incerti Anna Carmela Incerti is an Italian long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon. She has represented Italy in the marathon at European, World and Olympic-level...		2:30:55	PB
15	Dire Tune Dire Tune Dire Tune is an Ethiopian long-distance runner.Tune competed in the marathon at the 2005 World Championships. At the 2006 World Road Running Championships she finished fourth in the individual competition. This was good enough to help Ethiopia win a silver medal in the team competition.On April 21,...		2:31:16
16	Nina Rillstone		2:31:16
17	Bruna Genovese Bruna Genovese Bruna Genovese is an Italian long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon race.-Achievements:Genovese won the Italian under 21 half-marathon championship in 1998...		2:31:31
18	Luminiţa Talpoş Luminiţa Talpoş Luminiţa Talpoş is a female long-distance runner from Romania, who specialized in the marathon race during her career. She set her personal best in the women's marathon at the Vienna City Marathon on April 27, 2008.-Achievements:-References:*...		2:31:41
19	Madaí Pérez Madaí Pérez Madaí Pérez Carrillo is a Mexican long-distance runner. She represented Mexico in the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.- Career :...		2:31:47
20	Christelle Daunay Christelle Daunay Christelle Daunay is a French long distance runner who specialises in road running. She is the current French marathon record holder. She represented France at the 2008 Summer Olympics and has competed a number of times in the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships...		2:31:48
21	Benita Johnson Benita Johnson Benita Willis is an Australian distance runner, who is a three-time national champion in the women's 5,000 metres....		2:32:06
22	Svetlana Zakharova Svetlana Zakharova (athlete) Svetlana Vladimirovna Zakharova , is a Russian long-distance runner, who specializes in marathon races. She won several international marathons, such as: the Honolulu Marathon , the Chicago Marathon and the Boston Marathon...		2:32:16
23	Paula Radcliffe Paula Radcliffe Paula Jane Radcliffe, MBE is an English long-distance runner. She is the current women's world record holder in the marathon with her time of 2:15:25 hours...		2:32:38
24	Monika Drybulska		2:32:39	SB
25	Lee Eun-Jung Lee Eun-Jung Lee Eun-Jung is a female long-distance runner from South Korea, who is best known for winning the half marathon at the 2005 Summer Universiade...		2:33:07
26	Liz Yelling Liz Yelling Elizabeth Anne Yelling is a British long-distance runner currently based in Poole, Dorset...		2:33:12
27	Blake Russell Blake Russell Blake Russell is an American long-distance runner who represented her country at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After finishing third in the marathon at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, she went on to finish in 27th in the Olympic marathon in Beijing...		2:33:13
28	Beata Naigambo Beata Naigambo Beata Nandjala Naigambo is a Namibian long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon. Her personal best time is 2:33:17 hours, achieved in April 2008 in Pyongyang....		2:33:29
29	Vincenza Sicari Vincenza Sicari Vincenza Sicari is an Italian long-distance runner. She represented Italy internationally in cross country running early in her career, but later moved on to road events...		2:33:31
30	Dorota Gruca Dorota Gruca Dorota Gruca, married Giezek is a Polish marathon runner, who is a three-time national champion in the women's 5.000 metres....		2:33:32
31	Tetyana Filonyuk Tetyana Filonyuk Tetyana Filonyuk is an Ukrainian long-distance runner who specialises in marathon running.-Achievements:-References:...		2:33:35
32	Marisa Barros Marisa Barros Elisa Marisa Branco Barros Rodrigues is a female long-distance runner from Portugal who specialises in marathon running. She ran for her country at the 2008 Summer Olympics and was sixth at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics...		2:34:08
33	Lisa Jane Weightman Lisa Jane Weightman Lisa Jane Weightman is an Australian long distance runner who specialises in the marathon event. She represented Australia in the marathon at the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2009 World Championships in Athletics...		2:34:16
34	Kirsten Melkevik Otterbu Kirsten Melkevik Otterbu Kirsten Marathon Melkevik, formerly Kirsten Melkevik Otterbu, is a Norwegian long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon....		2:34:35
35	Liza Hunter-Galvan Liza Hunter-Galvan Liza Marie Hunter-Galvan is a long-distance runner from New Zealand. She qualified to run the Women's Marathon in both the 2004 Athens Olympic Games as well as the 2008 Beijing Olympics...		2:34:51
36	Jong Yong-Ok Jong Yong-Ok Jong Yong-Ok is a North Korean long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon.She finished 20th at the 2000 Olympic Games, 21st at the 2004 Olympic Games, 14th at the 2005 World Championships and 36th at the 2008 Olympic Games...		2:34:52
37	Rasa Drazdauskaitė Rasa Drazdauskaitė Rasa Drazdauskaitė is a Lithuanian long-distance runner. She represented her country at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, finishing 37th in the marathon....		2:35:09
38	Melanie Kraus Melanie Kraus Melanie Kraus is a German long-distance runner who specialises in long-distance track events and the marathon. She has won the Frankfurt Marathon. She represented Germany at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-External links:...		2:35:17
39	María Portillo		2:35:19	NR
40	Helalia Johannes		2:35:22
41	Shujing Zhang		2:35:35
42	Lucia Kimani Lucia Kimani Lucia Kimani Mwahiki-Marčetić is a Bosnian Olympic runner and currently holds four Bosnian records in different running competitions.She was part of the Bosnian Olympic team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China....		2:35:47	NR
43	Sandra Ruales Sandra Ruales Sandra de las Mercedes Ruales Mosquera is a female Ecuadorian athlete, who competes in the long-distance events. She twice competed for her native country at the Summer Olympics: 2004 and 2008...		2:35:53	PB
44	Kate Smyth		2:36:10
45	Yesenia Centeno		2:36:25
46	Ana Dias		2:36:25
47	Nebiat Habtemariam Nebiat Habtemariam Nebiat Habtemariam is an Eritrean long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres and cross-country running. She was born in Adi-Kinzinab....		2:37:03
48	Jo Bun-Hui Jo Bun-Hui Jo Bun-Hui is a North Korean long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon. Her personal best time is 2:27:22 hours, achieved at the 2006 Pyongyang Marathon.She competed at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games...		2:37:04
49	Tabitha Tsatsa		2:37:10
50	Bahar Doğan		2:37:12	PB
51	Marily dos Santos		2:38:10
52	Susanne Hahn		2:38:31
53	Chae Eun-Hee		2:38:52
54	Alessandra Aguilar Alessandra Aguilar Alessandra Aguilar is a Spanish long-distance runner who specialises in marathon running. She represented her country in the event at the 2008 Summer Olympics and at the World Championships in Athletics the following year....		2:39:29
55	Patricia Rétiz		2:39:34
56	Lee Sun-Young Lee Sun-Young Lee Sun-young is a South Korean long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon.She finished seventh in 10,000 metres at the 2005 Asian Championships and competed in the 2008 Olympic marathon....		2:43:23
57	Eva-Maria Gradwohl		2:44:24
58	Yuliya Arzipova		2:44:41
59	Sonia Calizaya		2:45:53
60	Eléni Dónta		2:46:44
61	Karina Pérez		2:47:02
62	Bertha Sánchez Bertha Sánchez Bertha Oliva Sánchez Rivera is a female long-distance runner from Colombia, who won several medals on continental level from the mid-1990s on. She has won twice at the South American Cross Country Championships; first winning the long race in 2000, then winning the short race competition in...		2:47:02
63	Pauline Curley		2:47:16
64	Maria José Pueyo		2:48:01
65	Petra Teveli		2:48:32
66	Epiphanie Nyirabarame		2:49:32
67	Zuzana Šaríková		2:49:39
68	Gabriela Traña		2:53:45
69	Oksana Sklyarenko		2:55:39
	Berhane Adere Berhane Adere Berhane Adere is an athlete from Ethiopia.Adere held the African record for 10,000 metres in a time of 30:04.18, set at the 2003 World Championships, where she won gold...
	Gete Wami Gete Wami Getenesh Wami is a female Ethiopian cross country and track runner....
	Inês Monteiro Inês Monteiro Inês Alexandra das Neves Monteiro is a Portuguese athlete who competes in middle and long distance track running, as well as road running and cross country. She started out as a cross country runner, winning a silver and a gold medal at the 1998 and 1999 European junior race...
	Valentina Delion
	Reiko Tosa Reiko Tosa is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon race.-Achievements:*All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise-Personal bests:*5000 metres - 15:37.08 min *10,000 metres - 32:07.66 min...
	Olivera Jevtic Olivera Jevtic Olivera Jevtić is a Serbian long-distance runner. She is based in her native city of Užice, Serbia. Jevtić's coach is Slavko Kuzmanović, and she competes for the running club "Mladost"...
	Galina Bogomolova Galina Bogomolova Galina Yevgeniyevna Bogomolova is a Russian long-distance runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres and the marathon....
	Mariana Dias Ximenes
	Beáta Rakonczai
	Mamorallo Tjoka
	Magdalena Lewy-Boulet Magdalena Lewy-Boulet Magdalena Lewy-Boulet is an American runner from Oakland, California. Born in Jastrzębie-Zdrój, Poland, Lewy-Boulet became a U.S. citizen on September 11, 2001. Lewy Boulet finished second at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon, held on April 20, 2008, in Boston, Massachusetts, in...
	Deena Kastor Deena Kastor Deena Michelle Kastor is an American long-distance runner. She holds American records in the marathon, half-marathon, and numerous road distances. She won the bronze medal in the women's marathon at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece...
	Nadia Ejjafini Nadia Ejjafini Nadia Ejjafini is a Moroccan-born long-distance runner. She switched nationality from her birth country to Bahrain, and later became an Italian citizen by marriage in 2009....

Key: NR = National Record, SB = Season Best, PB = Personal Best, = Did Not Finish, = Did Not Start

External links

• Official list of participants, and their results
• sports-reference