Paris: Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola secured the gold medal in the men’s marathon at the Paris Games on Saturday, while Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic title, failed to finish the race.
Belgium’s Bashir Abdi won silver, improving on his bronze medal from Tokyo, and Kenya’s Benson Kipruto took bronze. Tola set a new Olympic record with a time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 26 seconds, a remarkable feat given the grueling course, described by World Athletics as the toughest in Olympic or championship history.
Tola initially focused on maintaining pace with the leading group before deciding to push ahead. “My intention was just to keep up with the people who were going out and then after some point I decided to try to push on my own,” Tola explained. “But I was afraid and I was having difficulties when I was climbing up the uphill. I felt confident after the 41st kilometre, only one more to go. Until then I was looking back and I was not sure.”
Emerging strong from the first steep ascent, Tola built a lead of 18 seconds by the 35km mark, further extending it as he approached the Eiffel Tower with enthusiastic crowds cheering him on. This victory marked Ethiopia’s first Olympic men’s marathon win in 24 years. Tola was a late addition to the team, replacing Sisay Lemma, who withdrew due to a hamstring injury. Tola expressed gratitude, saying, “This victory also belongs to him, he gave me the opportunity. I would like to thank him.”
Abdi and Kipruto battled for the remaining podium positions, with Abdi finishing in 2:06:47 and Kipruto in 2:07:00. Kipruto, who had set the world’s fastest time this year with a 2:02:16 at the Tokyo Marathon, dedicated his bronze medal to Kelvin Kiptum, who passed away in February.
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Kipchoge, often hailed as the greatest marathon runner of all time, struggled with the course’s first ascent and was unable to secure a third consecutive gold medal. Kipruto noted, “The first part of the race we were together, talking and trying to move together. But I don’t know what happened, so I will go and see him.”
Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, with the fifth-fastest marathon time ever, finished 39th. “It was tough, you know, to challenge those guys,” the 42-year-old said. Britain’s Emile Cairess delivered an impressive performance, finishing fourth with a time of 2:07:29.
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The 42km marathon course, starting at the city hall, took athletes along the Seine, past landmarks like the Louvre and Opera Garnier, and through to the Palace of Versailles before returning to the city. The route commemorates a protest during the French Revolution when thousands of women marched on Versailles to demand bread.
The women’s marathon, traditionally held before the men’s, will conclude the Olympic athletics program on Sunday at 8 a.m. local time (0600 GMT).
