Brazilian marathoner Lima unlikely to run in Beijing Games
SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima, the Brazilian attacked by a protester while leading the marathon at 2004 Olympics, is unlikely to run in the Beijing Games because of an injury.
Lima hasn't recovered from a muscle injury ahead of the Prague Marathon this weekend, his last chance to qualify for Beijing, his spokesman Ricardo D'Angelo said Thursday.
The 38-year-old Lima has the fourth-best time among Brazilian runners. Only the top three will go to Beijing. Lima can only make it to China if one of the runners drops out.
During the Athens marathon, a defrocked priest jumped from the crowd and pushed him off the course with about 2 miles to go. Lima won the bronze, becoming the only Brazilian to earn an Olympic medal in the event.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
