Kipchoge completes Kenya's Olympics marathon double in Rio
Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge (left) and USA's Galen Rupp celebrate after the Men's Marathon athletics event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Sambodromo in Rio de Janeiro on August 21, 2016. PHOTO | AFP PHOTO
What you need to know:
- Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa took the silver medal in 2:09:54 as Galen Rupp of the United States settled for bronze in 2:09:65.
- Kipchoge blew the rest of the field into smithereens with a powerful display as he broke away with just over 10km of the race.
- But Kipchoge decisively brought the race to an end by the 35km mark after finally shrugging off Lilesa.
IN RIO DE JANEIRO
A wet and rainy morning in Rio de Janeiro provided the perfect conditions for a strong running Eliud Kipchoge to bag Kenya’s final medal as the 2016 Olympic Games came to an end on Sunday.
Tipped to win the race, Kipchoge displayed great composure under the treacherous weather conditions making it look all too easy as he burst into a sprint in the final 100m of the race unchallenged to clinch the gold medal in 2:08:44.
Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa took the silver medal in 2:09:54 as Galen Rupp of the United States settled for bronze in 2:09:65.
Kipchoge’s victory completed a marathon double for Kenya following Jemima Sumgong's victory seven days earlier on the same course for what was Kenya’s first gold medal at the Rio Games.
Kipchoge blew the rest of the field into smithereens with a powerful display as he broke away with just over 10km of the race to go running the final 4km all by himself.
“It feels good. It wasn’t an easy race, but all in all I feel comfortable and then again at 35km I was all alone and that when I made my mind to break off. I was planning to break off at 30km but there were some few people with me so I decided to hold on,” Kipchoge said.
“This is the best ever marathon ever in my life, it’s the best medal in my career so really feel great,” said Kipchoge who has previously won a silver and bronze medal on the track at the Olympics.
The early leader of the race was Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea stayed in front in the first 10km before Kipchoge quickened the pace at the 15km.
At the halfway mark, Wesley Korir was in the lead after covering the distance in 1:05:55, followed by Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda, Kipchoge and Eritrea’s Emmanuel Mesel in that order.
The leading group remained bunched just until after the 27km at which point a group of 12, including Kipchoge, Korir, Biwott, and the Ethiopian pair of Lilesa and Lemi Berhanu had broken free.
Berhanu reached the 30km first at 1:33:15 with Kipchoge and Lilesa in tow. At 32km the contest was shaping up into a battle between Kipchoge, the two Ethiopians and Rupp as Biwott and Korir fell off the pace.
STEPPED UP THE PACE
Sensing that from this point he would be all alone, Kipchoge stepped up the pace even as Lilesa and Rupp stayed on his heels as the race entered the final 10km.
But Kipchoge decisively brought the race to an end by the 35km mark after finally shrugging off Lilesa.
“I am a man who believes in planning and preparation. I’m going back to Kenya to consult with my coach and plan for the future,” the new Olympic champion who is also a two-time London marathon champion said.
Kenya concluded the Games with 13 medals (six gold, five silver and one bronze) a great improvement from the performance of 2012 in London where Kenya tallied 11 medals (two gold, four silver and five bronze).
Other than Kipchoge and Sumgong, David Rudisha (men’s 800m), Faith Chepngetich (women’s 1,500m), Conseslus Kipruto (men’s 3,000m steeplechase) and Vivian Cheruiyot (women’s 5,000m) also struck gold for Kenya.
The silver medallists were Cheruiyot (women’s 10,000m), Paul Tanui (10,000m), Hyvin Kiyeng (women’s 1,500m), Boniface Mucheru (men’s 400m hurdles) and Julius Yego (men’s javelin throw), while the sole bronze medallist was Margaret Nyairera in the women’s 800m.
