PARIS – Ethiopian runner Tamirat Tola set a new Olympic record by winning the men’s marathon at the Paris Olympics on Saturday. Tola crossed the finish line with a time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 26 seconds, marking the end of Kenya’s long dominance in this event. Belgium’s Bashir Abdi followed with a time 21 seconds slower, while Kenya’s Benson Kipruto took bronze, finishing 34 seconds behind.
As Tola approached the finish line, he turned back to the audience and enjoyed the warm applause from spectators. British runner Emile Cairess finished in fourth place and still had the energy for a final sprint after running 42 kilometers in the sun. However, the two-time defending champion, Eliud Kipchoge, struggled during the race; he was more than eight minutes behind Tola at the 30-kilometer mark and did not finish the race.
The last non-Kenyan runner to win the marathon was Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich at the London Olympics in 2012. Kipchoge, who is 39 years old, had hoped to become the first man to win the race three times but will now have to settle for two victories. Ethiopian runner Abebe Bikila won the marathon in 1960 and 1964, while Waldemar Cierpinski won in 1976 and 1980 representing the former East Germany.
This year, the men’s marathon did not take place on the final day, as the women are set to run their marathon on Sunday. The race started from Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), and the route led runners through parks and wooded areas, featuring an elevation gain of 436 meters and a longer descent. Under a blue sky, participants passed iconic landmarks such as the Opéra Garnier and the Louvre Museum. At the halfway point, they approached the majestic surroundings of Versailles before returning through Meudon Forest toward Paris, passing by the Eiffel Tower.
Tola remained at the front along with Italy’s Eyob Faniel and American Conner Mantz toward the halfway point, but they were soon caught as a large group of runners gathered. At that time, Kipchoge was more than a minute behind and slipped further back in the pack. After 35 kilometers, Tola pulled ahead, finishing 18 seconds before his compatriot Deresa Geleta, who ended in fifth place.
As the runners approached the gold-domed Invalides monument, the final resting place of French Emperor Napoleon, there were no signs of social tensions this time. Instead, every race was met with loud ovations and warm applause from the audience present.
Of course, the memory of Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum loomed over the race; the world record holder would have been a favorite for the gold medal, but tragically, he and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, lost their lives in a car accident back in February.
Stay tuned for the latest updates from day 14 of the Paris Olympics, where Algerian boxer Imane Khelif will compete for a gold or silver medal, and the U.S. women’s 4×100 meter relay team is led by silver medalist Sha’Carri Richardson. Additionally, France will face Spain in the men’s football tournament final, which will ensure a European gold winner for the first time in 32 years.