Paris Olympics 2024: Marathon Legend Eliud Kipchoge Hangs Up His Shoes…Literally – News18

Two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge was hoping for a dream finale to his career at the age of 39 but ended up handing over his running shoes to a fan.

The only man to run under two hours — albeit in an unofficial race — the Kenyan superstar decided enough was enough in Paris and stopped running around the 30-kilometre mark.

In scenes captured by an AFP reporter in the crowd, Kipchoge turned to fans and handed over his shoes, bib and socks to supporters, receiving a rapturous reception.

He then climbed wearily into a waiting van and was driven away as the crowd cheered wildly.

Kipchoge was aiming to win a historic third straight gold but was about eight minutes off the pace when he decided to throw in the towel.

Ethiopia’s Tola storms to men’s marathon gold

Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola won gold in the men’s marathon as Belgium’s Bashir Abdi 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, an Olympic record time especially impressive given the course was the toughest of any Olympics or championship, according to World Athletics.

“My intention was just to keep up with the people who were going out and then after some point I decided to try to push on my own,” Tola said.

“But I was afraid and I was having difficulties when I was climbing up the uphill. I felt confident after the 41st kilometre, only one more to go. Until then I was looking back and I was not sure.”

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.

Tola had an 18-second lead by the 35km mark, which he extended as the Eiffel Tower came into sight and crowds lining the streets roared him on. He became the first Ethiopian winner of the Olympic men’s marathon in 24 years.

Tola’s victory was all the more sweet given he was not initially on the team, having been called up after Sisay Lemma withdrew due to a hamstring injury.

Tola, 32, won the New York marathon last year in a course record.

“(Sisay) told me ‘It’s better for me to drop out and you have to go and compete, because you can do better than me with the condition I am in now,’” Tola said. “This victory also belongs to him, he gave me the opportunity. I would like to thank him.”

He crossed the finish line cheered on by Haile Gebrselassie, Ethiopia’s former double Olympic 10,000m champion, whom he has cited as one of his inspirations to become a marathon runner.

Abdi and Kipruto were jostling with Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta for the next two steps on the podium but Geleta faded in the last two kilometres.

“The course was very tough today so I tried not to lose a lot of energy, I tried to run as smart as possible so I’m very happy with this result,” Abdi said. “It was really tough, the weather was hot and there were a lot of ups and downs.”

Abdi, who began his career competing in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres, finished in 2:06:47 with 33-year-old Kipruto posting a time of 2:07:00.

Kipruto had posted the fastest time in the world this year having won the Tokyo Marathon in March in a personal best of 2:02:16.

He dedicated his bronze medal to Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a car crash in February at the age of 24, having broken the marathon world record in Chicago last year.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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