Ethiopian Athlete Tamirat Tola Achieves Historic Victory in Men’s Olympic Marathon in Paris

Ethiopian athlete Tamirat Tola delivered an impressive solo performance, winning the men’s Olympic marathon in Paris. In a surprising turn of events, Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge, who aimed for his third consecutive Olympic gold medal, was unable to finish the race. Belgian Bashir Abdi secured the silver medal, an improvement from his bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, while Kenya’s Benson Kipruto earned the bronze medal.

Tola established a solid lead early in the race, crossing the finish line in two hours, six minutes, and 26 seconds, setting an Olympic record. This achievement is particularly remarkable as the marathon route was deemed the toughest at any Olympic Games or championship, according to World Athletics.

“My intention was just to stick with the runners who started out fast, and then I decided to push on,” Tola stated. “But I was in doubt, and I was struggling when we had to go uphill. I felt confident after the 41st kilometer when there was only one left. Until then, I looked back and wasn’t sure.” Tola, a former cross-country runner, seemed to gain strength on the second hill as other competitors faded. The 32-year-old gained an 18-second lead at the 35 km mark and expanded this as he spotted the Eiffel Tower with enthusiastic spectators cheering him on. With this victory, Tola becomes the first Ethiopian man to win the Olympic marathon in 24 years.

Tola had an additional reason to celebrate his victory, as he was initially not part of the team but was called in after Sisay Lemma withdrew due to a hamstring injury. Upon crossing the finish line, he was celebrated by Haile Gebrselassie, Ethiopia’s two-time Olympic champion in the 10,000 meters, whom Tola has cited as an inspiration in his marathon career.

Abdi and Kipruto battled for the next podium positions against Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta, but Geleta faced difficulties in the final two kilometers. Abdi, who began his career in the 5,000m and 10,000m events, finished with a time of 2:06:47, while Kipruto clocked in at 2:07:00. Kipruto dedicated his bronze medal to Kelvin Kiptum, who tragically lost his life in a car accident in February at the age of 24 after setting a marathon world record in Chicago last year.

Kipchoge, widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, failed to secure another gold medal and noted that he could not keep pace with the field during the first hill. Kipchoge, who had dreamed of a glorious end to his career at age 39, stopped running around the 30 km mark and handed his running shoes to a fan as he climbed into a waiting car amid applause from the crowd.

Kipchoge described the day as a challenge: “This is my worst marathon. I’ve never before not finished. That’s life,” he commented. He mentioned experiencing back pain after 20 kilometers. Kipchoge was hesitant to comment on his future, stating he would consider his options over the next three months. “I will still try to run some marathons,” he added.

In an unusual arrangement, the women’s marathon will not be held until after the men’s race, rounding off the athletics program on Sunday at 06:00 GMT.