BEIJING -- Samuel Kamau Wansiru won the men's marathon, the final event of the Beijing Games track and field sports, with a perfect performance at the long-distance running here on Sunday.

After dominated the distance running in the Bird's Nest, the 21-year-old Kenyan won the race for African in a time of two hours six minutes and 32 seconds, breaking the Olympic record set by Carlos Lopes of Portugal at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles by two minutes 49 seconds.

Jaouad Gharib of Morocco finished second, also broke the previous Olympic record, in a time of two hours seven minutes and 16 seconds,  while Tsegay Kebede of Ethiopia won the bronze in 2:10:00.

Samuel Kamau Wansiru of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the men's marathon in the athletics competition at the National Stadium during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 24, 2008. [Agencies]

Yonas Kifle from Eritrea and Samuel Kamau Wanisuru from Kenya (R) run in front of the Tiananmen Gate after the start of the men's marathon at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 24, 2008. [Agencies]