Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon
The men's marathon at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, was held on Sunday August 12, 1984. The race started at 5:00 pm local time. There were 107 competitors from 59 countries. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. A total number of 78 athletes completed the race, with Dieudonné LaMothe from Haiti finishing in last position in 2:52:18. Twenty-nine athletes did not finish. Carlos Lopes of Portugal won in 2:09:21 which set the Olympic record for 24 years. It was Portugal's first medal in the men's marathon, as well as its first gold medal in any Olympic event. Ireland also won its first men's marathon medal, with John Treacy's silver. Great Britain returned to the podium for the first time since 1964 with Charlie Spedding taking bronze.