Ronaldo da Costa broke the ten-year-old marathon world record

World record

A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...

 in 1998 in Berlin

Berlin

Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...

. The record was previously held by Belayneh Densamo

Belayneh Densamo

Belayneh Densamo is a long-distance track and road running athlete from Ethiopia. He held the world record in the marathon for 10 years . This was the third longest span without the record being broken since the event was first organized at the 1896 Olympics...

 from Ethiopia

Ethiopia

Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...

 at the Rotterdam Marathon

Rotterdam Marathon

The Rotterdam Marathon is an annual marathon that has been held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands since 1981. It has been held in April of every year since the third edition in 1984, and attracts many top athletes. It has also been ranked as one of the top 10 marathons in the world by Runner's World...

 in April, 1988. The time is still the fastest time by a non-African born athlete.

The youngest of eleven children, Da Costa became a national hero after winning the traditional São Silvestre

Saint Silvester Marathon

The Saint Silvester Road Race is a long-distance running event, the oldest and most prestigious street race in Brazil.Regarded as the main international event in Latin American athletics, the Brazilian competition is held yearly in the city of São Paulo on December 31...

 Brazilian road race (15 km) in 1994.

Achievements

Representing
1995	Pan American Games Athletics at the 1995 Pan American Games The Athletics Competition at the 1995 Pan American Games was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:*...	Mar del Plata, Argentina	3rd	10,000 m	29:07.68
1997	Berlin Marathon Berlin Marathon The Berlin Marathon is a major running and sporting event held annually in Berlin, Germany. The official marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers is set up as a city-wide road race where professional athletes and amateur runners jointly participate...	Berlin, Germany	5th	Marathon	2:09:07
1998	Berlin Marathon Berlin Marathon The Berlin Marathon is a major running and sporting event held annually in Berlin, Germany. The official marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers is set up as a city-wide road race where professional athletes and amateur runners jointly participate...	Berlin, Germany	1st	Marathon	2:06:05
2002	Berlin Marathon Berlin Marathon The Berlin Marathon is a major running and sporting event held annually in Berlin, Germany. The official marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers is set up as a city-wide road race where professional athletes and amateur runners jointly participate...	Berlin, Germany	16th	Marathon	2:12:52
2003	Tokyo Marathon Tokyo Marathon The Tokyo International Marathon was a marathon for male elite runners held in Tokyo, Japan, from 1980 until 2006.It actually consisted of two marathons - the Tokyo International Marathon which took place on even years, and Tokyo-New York Friendship International Marathon which took place on odd...	Tokyo, Japan	17th	Marathon	2:20:57

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