USA TODAY Sports
RIO DE JANEIRO — Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, who had the eyes of the world upon him Friday night as he lit the caldron at the Rio Olympics opening ceremony, has received an apology from the man who ruined his hopes of Olympic glory 12 years ago.
Cordeiro de Lima was the leader, on course for victory in the Olympic marathon in Athens in 2004, but he was accosted by Neil Horan, a defrocked priest from Ireland, with 4 four miles to run. The disruption cost the Brazilian athlete enough time that two men passed him and he ended up with the bronze medal.