The Olympic marathon held in Paris will be remembered for a long time. The race passed by many famous landmarks and included more than 400 meters of elevation gain. Olympic champion Tamirat Tola took advantage of one of these tough climbs to make a decisive move. Richard Ringer and Samuel Fitwi showed strong performances, finishing in 12th and 15th place respectively.
The men’s Olympic marathon on Saturday morning turned out to be a challenging race. The course started from the Paris City Hall, passed the halfway mark near the Palace of Versailles, and finished at the Esplanade des Invalides in the city center. The 81 starters had to conquer 436 meters of elevation gain over the 42.195-kilometer distance. To put it into perspective, fast city courses only have about 50 meters of elevation gain.
During the race, the leaders faced a tough uphill section between kilometers 15 and 21 with nearly 150 meters of elevation gain, causing the lead group to break apart. Running legends like Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele couldn’t keep up with the pace at the front. European record-holder Richard Ringer fell back, while Samuel Fitwi remained in the lead group. Amanal Petros, weakened by a prior infection, also struggled.
As the race progressed, only 15 runners remained in the lead group after 25 kilometers, including Samuel Fitwi and Richard Ringer who was slightly behind in a chasing group. The challenging “up and down” section of the course proved to be a test for the runners’ muscles. Tamirat Tola seized the opportunity during this section, breaking away before the 30-kilometer mark and accelerating during the downhill portion.
Richard Ringer made a strong push in the final kilometers, moving up through the ranks to finish in 12th place with a time of 2:09:18 hours. He had meticulously prepared for the Olympic marathon by studying the course multiple times. Samuel Fitwi finished in 15th place with a time of 2:09:50 hours, showcasing a solid performance in his fourth marathon and first Olympic appearance.
At the front, Tamirat Tola secured the victory in an Olympic record time of 2:06:26 hours, surpassing the previous record. Bashir Abdi took the silver medal, and Benson Kipruto claimed the bronze. The race saw several notable athletes, including Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele, face challenges and not finish the race.
Overall, the Olympic marathon in Paris was a test of endurance and strategy, with Tamirat Tola emerging as the deserving champion. The event showcased the resilience and determination of the athletes who competed on a demanding course in front of enthusiastic spectators.