Kenya’s marathon legend, Eliud Kipchoge’s dream of winning his third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the men’s marathon ended in heartbreak on Saturday, August 10, 2024.
Kipchoge was dethroned by Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola who clocked 2:06:26 to secure a gold medal for his country.
Tola smashed the previous Olympic record of 2:06.32 held by the late Samuel Wanjiru from Kenya who achieved the fete in the 2008 Beijing Games.
“Tamirat Tola breaks the Olympic marathon record with 2:06:26 on what might be the most brutal marathon course ever in the history of the Olympics,” World Athletics stated.
Tola was followed closely by Belgium’s Bashir Abdi who took silver, improving on his bronze from Tokyo, and Kenya’s Benson Kipruto claimed bronze.
Tola built a strong lead early on and crossed the finish line in two hours, six minutes and 26 seconds. Emerging from a pack of frontrunners from the first steep ascent of an exceptionally hilly course, the former cross-country specialist seemed only to strengthen on the second hill as others faded behind him.
After 10 kilometres, Kenya’s Benson Kipruto who is the fastest marathoner in the world this year, was leading the pack before Tola took charge of the race.
The top three exchanged the lead until the final stretch where Tola sprinted out to scoop the Olympic gold.
Kipchoge’s struggle
While Kipchoge is a legend in the sport of athletics, with two Olympic gold medals and 10 major marathon victories, he failed to impress in the global showpiece.
At 25km, Kipchoge was trailing at position 65 before he was later recorded walking before pulling out of the race.
By the time of this publication, Kipchoge had not issued a statement over his performance at the Paris Olympics games.
Before the Paris setback, Kipchoge had won back-to-back Olympics gold medals following victories in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
No historic triple for 🇰🇪's @EliudKipchoge 💔
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 10, 2024
The double Olympic marathon champion sits in 63rd place after 25km.#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/r99q7C8Pog
Another Kenyan, Alexandra Mutiso finished position 21.
Following Kenya’s performance, Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen lauded Kipruto for winning Bronze and encouraged Kipchoge to keep his head high despite the loss.
“Congratulations, Benson Kipruto, on bringing home the Olympic bronze medal in one of the toughest marathon courses in the Games’ history. Great team effort from Alexander Mutiso and the Greatest of All Time, Eliud Kipchoge.
“It was a brutal race, but you guys gave it everything you had, blood and sweat. The nation is proud of you. Keep the Kenyan flag flying. We shall be back!” Murkomen wrote on X.
BRILLIANT, BENSON! 👏
— TeamKenya (@OlympicsKe) August 10, 2024
The #TeamKenya debutants have been shining at the Paris Olympics, and Benson Kipruto isn’t shy to say, "I came, and I gave my best."
A new star is on the rise! 🚀#HesabikaNaMabingwa pic.twitter.com/cLthEvaj10
