Watch: Vanderlei de Lima lights Olympic cauldron
Vanderlei de Lima finally got his Olympic moment. Let the Games begin!
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2016
Watch more: https://t.co/OLUXwsZYga https://t.co/Vg0fTPg0Yv
(U.S. only)
Marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima lights the #Rio2016 Olympic Cauldron at the #OpeningCeremony! https://t.co/0kWwrhzALk
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) August 6, 2016
(Canada only)
In the end, it was Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima - the Brazilian long-distance runner attacked by a protester while leading the Olympic marathon in Athens 2004 - who lit the Olympic cauldron to ignite Rio 2016.
Former World No. 1 tennis star Gustavo Keurten ran the torch into Maracana Stadium before handing it off to basketball legend Hortencia Maracari, who then brought it up to the cauldron for De Lima.
![](https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/196421/REU_2459998.jpg?ts=1470453435)
![](https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/196424/REU_2460058.jpg?ts=1470454877)
De Lima was seven kilometers away from delivering Brazil its first gold medal in marathon competition, but settled for bronze when two runners passed him shortly after the infamous disruption.
![](https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/196420/REUA_096828.jpg?ts=1470453208)
The IOC recognized De Lima with the Pierre de Coubertin medal to commend his handling of the situation, an award that must pale in comparison to lighting the cauldron in the first Olympics in South America.
HEADLINES
- NFL Week 1 betting primer: Spread movement, insights, and marquee matchups
- Witt lifts Royals to 1.5-game lead over Twins in AL wild card
- Quintana gets 100th win as Mets blank Reds for 9th straight victory
- Cortes upset Yankees moved him to bullpen: 'I've been the workhorse'
- Dodgers' Hernández avoids major foot injury, could return by Tuesday