Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola performed a solo running masterclass to win the men’s Olympic marathon in Paris, while Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge, who was bidding for a third successive Olympic title, failed to finish.
Belgian Bashir Abdi took silver, improving on his bronze from the Tokyo Games, and Kenyan Benson Kipruto won bronze.
Tola built a strong lead early on and crossed the finish line in two hours, six minutes and 26 seconds, an Olympic record that is especially impressive given that the course was the most difficult of any Olympics or championship, according to the World Athletics.
“My intention was just to keep up with the people who were leaving, and after a while I decided to try to move forward on my own,” Tola said.
“But I was scared and had difficulty on the way up. I felt confident after the 41st kilometer [25th mile]just one more left. Until then, I was looking back and wasn’t sure.”
Emerging from a pack of pioneers from the first steep climb of an exceptionally hilly course, the former cross-country specialist only seemed to strengthen on the second hill as others disappeared behind him.
The 32-year-old had an 18-second lead at the 35km (21.7 mile) mark, which he extended when the Eiffel Tower came into view and the crowds on the streets cheered him on. He became the first Ethiopian winner of the men’s Olympic marathon in 24 years.
Tola’s victory was all the sweeter because he was not initially in the team, having been called up after Sisay Lemma withdrew due to a hamstring injury.
He crossed the finish line encouraged by Haile Gebrselassie, Ethiopia’s two-time Olympic champion in the 10,000 meters, who he cited as one of his inspirations for becoming a marathon runner.
Abdi and Kipruto were competing for the next two steps of the podium with Ethiopian Deresa Geleta, but Geleta faded in the last 2 km (1.2 miles).
Abdi, who began his career competing in the 5,000m and 10,000m, finished in 2:06:47 with 33-year-old Kipruto clocking a time of 2:07:00.
Kipruto recorded the fastest time in the world this year, having won the Tokyo Marathon in March with a personal best of 2:02:16.
He dedicated his bronze medal to Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a car crash in February, aged 24, after breaking the marathon world record in Chicago last year.
Kipchoge hangs up his shoes
Kipchoge, widely considered the greatest marathon runner of all time, fell short of a third successive gold, defeated by the first climb of the route that took the athletes to Versailles.
Kipchoge expected a dream end to his career at the age of 39, but ended up handing over his running shoes to a fan.
The only man to run under two hours – albeit in an unofficial race – the Kenyan superstar decided he had had enough in Paris and stopped running around the 30km (18.6 mile) mark.
Kipchoge turned to the fans and handed out his shoes, bib and socks to the fans, receiving a rapturous reception.
He then tiredly climbed into a waiting van and was taken away as the crowd cheered wildly.
Kipchoge was around eight minutes off the pace when he decided to throw in the towel.
For Kipchoge, it was “a difficult day at the office”.
“This is my worst marathon. I’ve never done a DNF [did not finish]. That’s life,” he said.
He said he felt back pain after the 20km (12 mile) mark.
Kipchoge has been evasive about his future.
“I don’t know what my future holds. I’ll think about it over the next three months. I still want to try to run some marathons,” he said.
The women’s marathon, usually held before the men’s, will this time complete the Olympic athletics program and is scheduled to begin on Sunday at 06:00 GMT.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
