Kipchoge, who has wowed fans all over the world with his prowess over the years, dipped out of contention in the early stages, missing out on a chance to achieve what few thought would be possible.
The quest for Kenyan marathon legend, Eliud Kipchoge for an unprecedented third successive Olympic Games gold medal ended in heartbreak on Saturday, August 10 at the Paris 2024 Olympic marathon.
Kipchoge, who has wowed fans all over the world with his prowess over the years, dipped out of contention in the early stages, missing out on a chance to achieve what few thought would be possible.
Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola crossed the line in an Olympic record time of 2:06.26 to secure the country’s first gold of these Games.
Belgium’s Bashit Abdi finished second to take the silver, with Kenya’s Benson Kipruto winning bronze with a time of 2:07:00. It is worth noting that in 2023, Kipruto finished second behind the late Kelvin Kiptum, who set the world record (2:00:35).
Kenyan Benson Kipruto finished third in the men’s marathon on August 10, 2024. /TEAM KENYA
32-year-old Tola stood out in Paris in style, breaking the late Samuel Wanjiru’s record in the event, which had stood for 16 years since the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, by six seconds.
The marathon, a gruelling test of endurance, began with Kipchoge leading a formidable group of 14 athletes. However, the 39-year-old’s quest for immortality was dashed as he fell off the pace just at the halfway mark of the race. With 25 kilometres to go, the double Olympic marathon champion sat in 63rd place.Â
Kipchoge had appeared to struggle for a while, having clutched his waist in the middle of the race, a sign that all was not well in his quest to make history.
Even though he commandeered an impressive 2:01:09 minutes personal best, Kipchoge’s performance was not enough to secure him a third consecutive gold, a feat no athlete has achieved at the Olympics.
Despite the struggle at the Paris Olympics, Kipchoge’s career remains marked by a series of stunning victories, including 12 major marathons from 2014 to 2023 and a slew of prestigious awards.