Defending Olympic Gold Medalist, Mizuki Noguchi of Japan withdrew from Olympic competition on Tuesday, according to the Japanese Olympic Committee. Noguchi, 30, earned the Gold Medal in the women’s marathon at the Athens Games in 2004. The reason given for her withdrawal was a lingering left thigh injury.
Britain’s Paula Radcliffe, the world record holder, is the favorite to win the marathon, which is scheduled to be run on August 17.

Ethiopian long-distance runner, Abebe Bikila was a late addition in the Olympic marathon event at the 1960 Games in Rome. His team-issued shoes were uncomfortable so he decided to run the 26-mile race barefoot–and he won it, making him the first East African to win an Olympic medal. Bikila went on to repeat as the Gold Medalist at the 1964 Games (this time with shoes). Below are the highlights of his 1960 run:

Beijing marked the 100-day countdown to the Olympics yesterday with much celebration. Among the events were a concert with 100 singers, a song and dance presentation at the Forbidden City, and a mini-marathon around the National Stadium and the Olympic Aquatic Center.
(photo © Newscom)