Bahrain's Rashid Ramzi handed the kingdom its first Olympic medal when he won the men's 1500 metres gold medal at the Beijing Games on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old Ramzi, world champion in 2005, claimed victory in a time of 3:32.94 with Kenya's Asbel Kiprop taking the silver in 3:33.11.

New Zealand's Nicholas Willis earned a surprise bronze to win his country's first medal in the event since 1976 with a time  of 3:34.16.