A Polish runner has told how he was cheated out of his gold medal in North Korea's International Marathon when officials awarded it to a local.

Veteran competitor Wojciech Kopec, 38, announced his race-winning time of two hours, 30 minutes and 39 seconds after the event in Pyongyang on 5th April.

Wojciech Kopec poses in undated photo. He reportedly claims victory in North Korean marathon, despite state media reporting local winner. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (@KopecWojciech/Newsflash/NX)

He told his social media fans: "It wasn't an easy route, but I'm happy with the best time this year on the marathon route. Thank you for keeping your fingers crossed."

But moments later, the astonished athlete heard that race officials had handed the win to North Korean runner Pak Kum Dong with a claimed time of two hours,12 minutes and eight seconds.

His claimed time raised eyebrows because it was within minutes of international champion Kenyam Alexander Mutiso's 2024 London Marathon time.

Wojciech Kopec poses in undated photo. He reportedly claims victory in North Korean marathon, despite state media reporting local winner. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (@KopecWojciech/Newsflash/NX)

It is believed race officials were terrified they would be punished by North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un if a foreigner won.

The North Korean 'win' was later confirmed by the state-controlled news outlet nknews.org.

Wojciech Kopec poses in undated photo. He reportedly claims victory in North Korean marathon, despite state media reporting local winner. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (@KopecWojciech/Newsflash/NX)

The marathon was the first since 2019 when the country closed its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is the latest in a string of marathons for the Polish runner and the 105th country he has competed in.

(Clive Goodman / newsX)