Track & Field > Marathon

Pursuit of Excellence

Before Magdalena Lewy-Boulet qualified for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Team, she was a decent swimmer in her native Poland. But then events unfolded that made her flee the communism of the era for the United States. She spoke to NBC Olympics about the immigration process.

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Basics

The men's and women's marathon is a single race with no draw or qualifying heats. Competitors are arranged randomly at the starting line and begin when the gun is fired. The 26.2 mile course will finish inside the National Stadium.

Men's marathon medalists Women's marathon medalists Distance rules

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Marathon Athletes

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Follow Hall of Famer Amby Burfoot's Daily Blog every day from Beijing. Burfoot has served as a Runner's World editor since 1978 and has attended and covered five Summer Olympic Games, beginning in 1984.

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