Rashid Ramzi handed Bahrain its first-ever Olympic medal when he won the men's 1,500m at the Beijing Games Tuesday.

Bahrain's Rashid Ramzi celebrates after winning the men's 1,500m final August 19 2008. He won ahead of Kenya's Asbel Kipruto Kiprop and New Zealand' Nicholas Willis. [Agencies]

The 28-year-old Moroccan-born runner won in 3 min 32.94 sec, outsprinting the field.

Kenya's Asbel Kipruto Kiprop, who finished fourth in last year's World Championships in Osaka, claimed silver in 3:33.11 with New Zealander Nicholas Willis winning bronze in 3:34.16.

Bahrain has taken part in six Olympic Games so far but had never won a medal.

Ramzi's teammate, Kenyan-born Belal Mansoor Ali, blasted away to the front of the 12-man field at the start of the race, three and three-quarter laps around the packed Bird's Nest in sultry conditions.

He was soon joined by Kiprop, who took the pack through the first 400m in 56.48.

Augustine Choge then moved into the lead and as the bell for the last lap sounded, the Kenyan Commonwealth 5000m champion opened up his stride in bid to up the pace.

The field followed suit but with 300m to go, Ramzi kicked.

For a moment it looked as if he had moved too early as Ali shadowed him around the far bend.

But with teeth clenched, Ramzi, who moved to Bahrain in 2001 to join the army, maintained his startling burst of pace to outsprint the chasing pack, including an ever-closing 60m gasping effort from Kiprop.

His victory made up for his semifinal exit at the Athens Games four years ago. It replicated his form in the 2005 Worlds, that saw him become the first athlete

Bahrain's Rashid Ramzi (right) runs to the finish line in front of Kenya's Asbel Kipruto Kiprop during the men's 1500m final August 19 2008. [Agencies]

since New Zealand's Peter Snell in the 1964 Olympics to do the 800/1500m double in a global championship.

Kenyan-born American Bernard Lagat, who edged Ramzi in the 2007 World Championships, failed to reach the final.

"I'm ready to raise the bar from Athens," the enigmatic Ramzi had said after the semifinals on Sunday.

He sure did that Tuesday.

Agencies