1982 Commonwealth Games Mens Marathon
The race that stopped the
Nation ... October 8,
1982 ...
Robert De Castella was the favourite to win the marathon at the
1982 Commonwealth Games in
Brisbane. At the start of the race,
Tanzanians Gidamis Shahanga and
Juma Ikangaa raced to the lead and were 50m ahead of the pack after five minutes. After the
20 km mark, this gap had widened to several hundred meters. By the 23 km mark, Ikangaa had taken the lead from his compatriot, with de
Castella in the main pack some 250m behind, but closing. de Castella passed the now tiring Shahanga at the 38 km mark, and in the next kilometre drew level with Ikangaa then took the lead. However Ikangaa was not done yet, and re-took the lead slightly. The duel continued for the remainder of the race.
Eventually de Castella pulled away, and won by 80m in...