Just two days later, the blazing pace through the first 20 kilometers in the marathon helped result in an eventual world record for the barefoot winner, Ethiopia's Abebe Bikila. After they dispatched the rest of the field by 25 kilometers, the leading pair stayed stride-for-stride until the final 500 meters, with Ben Abdesselam finishing a close second in 2:15:41.6, 25.4 seconds behind Abebe's new world record.
Two days after, the swift pace through the initial 20 kilometers in the marathon resulted in a world record for the barefoot winner, Ethiopia's Abebe Bikila. After they left the rest of the field by 25 kilometers, the leading pair maintained stride-for-stride until the final 500 meters, with Ben Abdesselam finishing second in 2:15:41.6, 25.4 seconds behind Abebe's new world record.