Marathon runner Cordeiro lights Olympic cauldron

For those wondering, who is Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima?

The Rio Games launched with a flamboyant spectacle headlined by supermodel Gisele Bundchen on Friday as a doom-laden Olympic build-up gave way to an energetic party atmosphere at the fabled Maracana stadium.

Since the lighting of the torch in Olympia, Greece, in April, the Olympic torch has made its way through three countries and traveled over 22,515 miles, accoring to Quartz.

Brazilian marathoner Vanderlei De Lima has lit the cauldron at the Rio Games.

Phelps is just the second swimmer to serve as the flag bearer in United States Olympic history, with Gary Hall receiving the honor in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.

Iran’s flagbearer was wheelchair-bound Zahra Nemati, their first ever female flag-carrier who will compete in archery despite being paralysed in both legs.

The Summer Olympic Games are being held in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro from August 5 until August 21.

By all accounts, de Lima was a deserving choice. Cordeiro has overcome incredible things. He fell back from first to third place and ultimately won the bronze medal. To those who have no idea who he is, the 46-year-old runner was considered a hero by his fellow Brazilians after being attacked by a protester during the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

The Brazilian athletics team appealed in vain for De Lima to get a gold medal, but he received the Pierre de Coubertin medal from the International Olympic Committee at the closing ceremony for the way he handled the situation.