Bahrain's Maryam Yusuf Jamal was stunned yesterday in her bid to claim a women's 1,500 metres Olympic medal in Beijing.
The event's reigning world champion finished a shock fifth in the final, missing out on a podium place in a race she was widely expected to comfortably take.
Compatriot Youssef Saad Kamel, meanwhile, was also upset in his Olympic dreams. The Asian number one also was fifth in his men's 800m final, as he yet again came up short in a major world event.
Maryam, competing in only her second race in her debut Olympic Games, began the run well as she maintained a comfortable pace among the leaders while looking almost certain of capably putting in a strong sprint finish. Her kick came in the final 500m, leading at the bell and appearing to be headed for another trademark victorious ending.
But it all collapsed heading into the race's final 200m when Nancy Jebet Langat overtook the Bahraini.
The Kenyan looked much stronger heading down the home straight, despite Maryam's valiant efforts to match Langat's sprint. The eventual winner was able to extend her lead until the end, en route to stealing away the gold.
Maryam appeared too staggered as she watched her Olympic dreams fade right before her eyes, and in disappointment virtually jogged to the end. The 23-year-old allowed three others to pass her as she neared the line, and she threw up her arms in the air in a sign of frustration.
Langat claimed the win in four minutes 00.23 seconds, while Ukrainian Iryna Lishchynska came away with the silver in 4:01.63 and her compatriot Nataliya Tobias bronze in 4:01.78. Lishchynska and Tobias were among those who passed Maryam towards the finish, along with Britain's Lisa Dobriskey who finished fourth in 4:02.10. Maryam followed in 4:02.71.
On the distaff, Kamel was just as unsuccessful in his race. The second-time Olympian looked good to claim a podium place as the field came down the final bend, but he faded in the end despite his best efforts.
Kamel was in prime position in third over the last 100m, but the 25-year-old was eventually outsprinted in a very tightly contested ending. Only three-tenths of a second separated him from clinching the gold medal, which was won by Kenya's Wilfred Bungei in 1:44.65.
Silver was claimed by Sudan's Ismail Ahmed Ismail in 1:44.70, while Bungei's countryman Alfred Kirwa Yego won bronze in 1:44.82. Canada's Gary Reed was fourth in 1:44.94, just barely ahead of Kamel who completed the race in 1:44.95.
Yesterday's results ended the Bahraini participation in the Olympic track events.
Maryam and Kamel were two Bahraini Olympians who were widely expected to bring glory to the kingdom in Beijing.
The national team is therefore set to finish with just one medal from Beijing, won by Rashid Ramzi in the men's 1,500m last week.
Bahrain's trio of long-distance runners - including Abdulhak Zakariya, Reyadh Al Mustafa and Stephen Kamar - will have one last shot today, albeit a long one, in the men's marathon scheduled for 2.30am, Bahrain time.
Click! Click! Click!
Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia celebrates after winning the women's 10,000m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on Friday. Photo/REUTERS
