Other names:

LOPES, Carlos Alberto

SOUSA LOPES, Carlos

Born: 18 February 1947

Birthplace: Viseu (Portugal)

Nationality: Portugal

Sport: Athletics

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Munich 1972

Montreal 1976

Los Angeles 1984

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 1

Silver: 1

Other results:

World Cross Country Championships

Gold: 3 (76,84,85)

Silver: 2 (77,83)

Crashing Through to Victory

In 1976, Carlos Lopes took the lead in the 10,000m final after 3,200m and kept it until Lasse Virén passed him with 450m to go. Lopes held on to earn the silver medal. Lopes returned to the Olympics in 1984 at the age of 37. This time he ran in the marathon, even though he had only entered three marathons previously and had only completed one. Only 15 days before the Olympic marathon, Lopes was on a training run when a car hit him. He rolled over the hood and his elbow crashed through the windshield. Fortunately, his injuries were minor. In Los Angeles, Lopes turned on the pressure after 34.5km, running the next five kilometres in only 14 minutes 33 seconds. He went on to win the race by 35 seconds. The following year, Lopes became the first runner to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours and 8 minutes.