In what may be his final Olympic Games, Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya dropped out of Saturday’s men’s marathon around the 31K mark. Today’s race was Kipchoge’s chance to be the first man to win the Olympic marathon three times in a career. His other Olympic marathon wins came in the Rio Olympics in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021.
“I will be the happiest on earth to win an Olympic medal for the third time, back-to-back-to-back,” Kipchoge said about the race prior to the Games on Olympics.com. “It’s about making history, it’s about inspiring a generation.”
Wearing a cooling headband for what was going to end up being a warm day, the race started relatively cool in the lower 60s on a clear day in Paris. Kipchoge hung with the lead pack for the first 15K until the notoriously challenging Paris Olympic Marathon hills started claiming victims.
After reaching Versailles and turning back to head toward Paris, Kipchoge was more than a minute off the lead pack, not within the top 50 runners. He split 25K to the 30K mark—the segment of the course from Chaville to Meudon with the steepest uphill and downhill—a little over 21 minutes, putting him more than 8 minutes off the lead pack. He was out of contention but gutting it out toward the finish line, buoyed by the Olympic crowd.
Win or not, Kipchoge’s extensive career has earned him G.O.A.T. status in the running world. He’s eclipsed the world record mark twice—both times at the Berlin Marathon—and became the only man ever to run under 2 hours in a non-record eligible marathon attempt in Vienna back in 2019.
More detail coming out soon
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All Reference: RunnersWorld
https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a61840872/eliud-kipchoge-drops-out-2024-olympic-marathon/
7 Comments
Glad to have lived during the time of Kipchoge.
😢,you still my Hero
He would be elevated from legend to god if he completed the marathon even just by walking. Look at the respect and adoration people have for the Bhutan lady who finished last.
I think he gave us our dose after branding him a murderer in the name of a winner….hii nayo alituramba 😢
He would have won his 5th Olympic medal !
I know kipchoges weakness is hills or rainy, but when he finds his comfort no human can beat him, kipchege is the best marathoner of all time
Whoever choose the race track is absolute psychopath. The inclined is so out of hand and its in the middle of the race as well. Don't forget the downhill. Kipchoge might be talented professional but unfortunately he wasn't able to handle it. 😢