[crimson]

Man in kilt makes Olympic history, and not in a good way

Defrocked priest attacks marathon leader, who finishes third

By ROB GLOSTER, AP Sports Writer

August 29, 2004

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- The defrocked Irish priest who bolted from the crowd and tackled the marathon leader about three miles from the finish Sunday has been arrested before for disrupting sporting events.

Cornelius Horan, 57, was wearing a green beret, a red kilt and knee-high green socks when he attacked Brazilian runner Vanderlei Lima, knocking him into the crowd. Lima was able to recover and finish, but had to settle for the bronze medal...

...Athens police sources identified the intruder as Cornelius Horan, who has been barred from practicing as a priest for the past decade. He once published a book called "A glorious new world very soon to come'' that predicted the world would soon end.

The attacker Sunday night had a piece of paper attached to his back bearing the message: "The Grand Prix Priest Israel Fulfillment of Prophecy Says the Bible.''

In July 2003, Horan, in a costume similar to Sunday's, ran onto the track at the British Grand Prix in the middle of the race and stayed there for more than 20 seconds, forcing Formula One racers traveling at more than 200 mph to swerve around him. He was carrying a sign that said: "Read the Bible -- the Bible is always right.''

British authorities said Horan also attempted a protest on Wimbledon's Center Court during a rain break, and tried to disrupt cricket and rugby matches.

On Sunday, Horan jumped from the crowd, ran across the street and grabbed Lima. A policeman following the leader on a bicycle jumped off and helped free the Brazilian.

Lima, whose once-large lead had been slowly shrinking, was able to get back into the race. But he lost several seconds as a result of the attack, and eventually was overtaken by Stefano Baldini of Italy and Mebrahtom Keflezighi of the United States. Lima finished third.

When the incident occurred, dozens of flag-waving Brazilian fans at the stadium that marked the marathon's end, watching the front-runners on a giant screen, suddenly went silent and the huge crowd gasped.

The police sources said Horan arrived in Athens just before dawn Sunday aboard a British Airways flight. They said Horan apparently acted because he believed that Christian Judgment Day was coming.

Horan would be taken to a prosecutor on Monday, the sources said. It was unclear if he would be charged or remanded for psychiatric evaluation.

story

[kidsheleen]

there is no place for garbage like this

over zealous fanatics...................................

[Monga]

I feel very sorry for the runner. He surely would have been training for years for this event and to have it disrupted like that... the ex-priest should be shot.

[sullise]

Focus less on the fact he used to be a priest and more on the fact that he has a serious mental disorder. And just how did he get on the field? I thought there was security during events?

[crimson]

Focus less on the fact he used to be a priest and more on the fact that he has a serious mental disorder. And just how did he get on the field?  I thought there was security during events?

Security all along a marathon route? Impossible.

[kas]

Over the years, how many times has Lance Armstrong been touched by the crowd and I believe once forced off his bike during Tour De France.

[n99nyrwg]

I had been watching this for like an hour before this happened. I stopped watching when they reached the 3 mile mark, which must have been just before it happened. Lima had a 45-60 second lead pretty much the whole time I was watching. That is an amazing lead in running.

Then I heard he only got 3rd, I was astounded, it really is too bad this guy had to do that.

As far as security, very little. People even step in the runners way to take pics of them, then move out of the way just as they run by. There was also a dog running the race earlier on in the race. He was only on camera for 30seconds or so, but he was beating Lima.

Kas, you are correct, atleast once that I know of. Some woman got in his way and his bike got stuck on her purse or something, causing him to fall.

Also, from the replies that I saw, the fans freed Lima, not any police officer. I'm sure there would have been quicker action, but I think everyone was just stunned.