He went on to win a record six national marathon championships winning his last in 1998 at the age of 42.
Prior to the Olympics he had run and won three national marathon championships in his native country.
The competition was first held in 1977 and also hosts the annual Israeli marathon national championship.
The race has doubled up as the national Italian marathon championships on a number of occasions.
He is still tied with several others as a runner who has won the most marathon championships in South African running history.
The race acts as the Japanese women's marathon championships on three-year rotational basis.
She also won the Asian Marathon Championships in 2002 and 2004.
In 2012 he won the Dutch Marathon Championships on natural ice for the second time.
She also finished 37th at the 2001 World Half Marathon Championships.
He also finished 25th at the 2001 World Half Marathon Championships.