Benson Kipruto bags Bronze for Kenya as Eliud Kipchoge falters in Olympics marathon

Kenya’s marathon legend, Eliud Kipchoge’s dream of successful his third consecutive Olympic gold medal within the males’s marathon resulted in heartbreak on Saturday, August 10, 2024.

Kipchoge was dethroned by Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola who clocked 2:06:26 to safe a gold medal for his nation.

Tola smashed the earlier Olympic document of two:06.32 held by the late Samuel Wanjiru from Kenya who achieved the fete within the 2008 Beijing Video games.

“Tamirat Tola breaks the Olympic marathon document with 2:06:26 on what could be probably the most brutal marathon course ever within the historical past of the Olympics,” World Athletics said.

Tola was adopted carefully by Belgium’s Bashir Abdi who took silver, bettering on his bronze from Tokyo, and Kenya’s Benson Kipruto claimed bronze.

Tola constructed a robust lead early on and crossed the end line in two hours, six minutes and 26 seconds. Rising from a pack of frontrunners from the primary steep ascent of an exceptionally hilly course, the previous cross-country specialist appeared solely to strengthen on the second hill as others light behind him.

After 10 kilometres, Kenya’s Benson Kipruto who’s the quickest marathoner on the earth this 12 months, was main the pack earlier than Tola took cost of the race.

The highest three exchanged the lead till the ultimate stretch the place Tola sprinted out to scoop the Olympic gold.

Kipchoge’s battle

Whereas Kipchoge is a legend within the sport of athletics, with two Olympic gold medals and 10 main marathon victories, he didn’t impress within the international showpiece.

At 25km, Kipchoge was trailing at place 65 earlier than he was later recorded strolling earlier than pulling out of the race.

By the point of this publication, Kipchoge had not issued a press release over his efficiency on the Paris Olympics video games.

Earlier than the Paris setback, Kipchoge had received back-to-back Olympics gold medals following victories in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

No historic triple for 🇰🇪’s @EliudKipchoge 💔

The double Olympic marathon champion sits in 63rd place after 25km.#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/r99q7C8Pog

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 10, 2024

One other Kenyan, Alexandra Mutiso completed place 21.

Following Kenya’s efficiency, Sports activities Cupboard Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen lauded Kipruto for successful Bronze and inspired Kipchoge to maintain his head excessive regardless of the loss.

“Congratulations, Benson Kipruto, on bringing residence the Olympic bronze medal in one of many hardest marathon programs within the Video games’ historical past. Nice staff effort from Alexander Mutiso and the Best of All Time, Eliud Kipchoge.

“It was a brutal race, however you guys gave it every thing you had, blood and sweat. The nation is pleased with you. Hold the Kenyan flag flying. We will be again!” Murkomen wrote on X.

BRILLIANT, BENSON! 👏

The #TeamKenya debutants have been shining on the Paris Olympics, and Benson Kipruto isn’t shy to say, “I got here, and I gave my finest.”

A brand new star is on the rise! 🚀#HesabikaNaMabingwa pic.twitter.com/cLthEvaj10

— TeamKenya (@OlympicsKe) August 10, 2024