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Tola wins gold in men's marathon, defending champ Kipchoge drops out
By Alex Butler,
1 day ago
Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Tamirat Tola set an Olympic record, running 26.2 miles in 2:06:26 to win the men's marathon Saturday in Paris. Bashir Abdi and Benson Kipruto joined him on the podium, while defending champion Eliud Kipchoge dropped out.
Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia crosses the finish line to win the gold medal in the men's marathon at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Saturday in Paris. Photo by Paul Hanna/UPI
Tola, 32, also won the 2023 New York Marathon. The Ethiopian averaged 4:49 per mile as he galloped around Summer Olympics course, which started at the Hotel de Ville, wound through nine districts and ended at Les Invalides. Tola entered the field as a substitute for fellow Ethiopian Sisay Lemma, who is injured.
"I was the reserve in the Ethiopian team, but when Sisay had injuries, then I had a chance to represent him," Tola told NBC . "I was fully prepared and knew I could fulfill my dream.
"I am happy to do that today. I am very proud, very happy."
Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia poses with his country's flag after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal in the men's marathon at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Saturday in Paris. Photo by Paul Hanna/UPI
Imagine breaking an OLYMPIC RECORD with the Esplanade des Invalides as the backdrop!?
Olympic silver medalist Bashir Abdi (L) of Belgium, gold medalist Tamirat Tola (C) of Ethiopia and bronze medalist Benson Kipruto of Kenya hold up their flags after finishing the men's marathon at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Saturday in Paris. Photo by Paul Hanna/UPI
Abdi, of Belgium, clocked a season-best 2:06.47 to earn a silver medal. Kipruto, of Kenya, registered a 2:07:00 to earn bronze.
Americans Conner Mantz and Clayton Young finished eighth and ninth, respectively. Mantz ran a season-best 2:08:12 marathon. Young's 2:08:44 also was a season-best.
Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia crosses the finish line to win the gold medal in the men's marathon at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Saturday in Paris. Photo by Paul Hanna/UPI
Kipchoge, widely recognized as the best marathon runner in history, was about 18.6 miles (30 kilometers) into the event before he stopped and decided to withdraw from the race. The Kenyan, who also won gold at Rio 2016, hinted that he will retire from the competition. Kipchoge dealt with discomfort around his waist.
"It is a difficult time for me, " Kipchoge said. "This is my worst marathon. I have never done a DNF [did not finish]. That's life. Like a boxer, I have been knocked down, I have won, I have come second, eighth, 10th, fifth -- now I did not finish. That's life."
Tamirat Tola (R) of Ethiopia leads a pack of runners during the men's marathon at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Saturday in Paris. Photo by Paul Hanna/UPI
American teammates Conner Mantz and Clayton Young finish in the top ten of the men's marathon!
Kipchoge, who holds the record for four of the Top 10 fastest marathons in history on record-eligible courses, was averaging 5:02 per mile and in eighth through the first 3.1 miles of the marathon. He averaged 4:56 and was in seventh through the first 9.23 miles (15 kilometers), but then faded to the back of the field.
Kipchoge, 39, slowed to 5:03 through 15.5 miles (25 kilometers) and 5:20 through 18.6 miles (30 kilometers) before stopping. He then allowed the other runners to pass, gave his running shoes and shirt to fans and got into an official vehicle to end his day. He was among 10 runners who did not finish.
The 2024 Summer Olympics women's marathon will start at 2 a.m. EDT Sunday in Paris.
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