She was coming last, 150 metres from the finish line and almost 44 seconds behind the winner.

But the crowd's focus in the women's 800m heat was set on Sarah Attar, who was living out a historic moment that had nothing to do with gold, silver or bronze.

Sarah Attar ... the crowd gave her a rousing reception. Credit:AFP

As US runner Alice Schmidt told AP: "She carried the weight of Saudi Arabia's women on her shoulders."

In London on Wednesday, local time, Attar became the first female track and field athlete to represent Saudi Arabia at an Olympics.