Paris, August 10, 2024 – Tola Tamirat of Ethiopia delivered a stunning performance to win gold in the men’s marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympics, crossing the finish line in a new Olympic record time of 2:06:26. Tamirat’s triumph comes as a remarkable turn of events, having entered the race as a substitute for the injured Sisay Lemma just two weeks prior.
“I was the reserve in the Ethiopian team, but when Sisay had injuries, then I had a chance to represent him. I was fully prepared and knew I could fulfill my dream. I am happy to do that today. I am very proud, very happy,” said an elated Tamirat, who becomes the fourth Ethiopian to win the men’s marathon at the Olympic Games.
Bashir Abdi of Belgium, who secured bronze at Tokyo 2020, upgraded his medal to silver in Paris with a time of 2:06:47, finishing 21 seconds behind Tamirat. Kenya’s Benson Kipruto took bronze with a time of 2:07:00. Kipruto dedicated his achievement to the late Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world record holder who tragically died in a car accident earlier this year.
The marathon route, which began at the historic Hôtel de Ville and passed iconic Paris landmarks like the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles, proved to be a challenging course. Runners faced a grueling climb and a steep descent, with Tamirat strategically positioning himself before making a decisive move after 35 kilometers.
The day was marked by the unexpected struggles of Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge, who had been aiming to become the first man to win three Olympic marathons. Kipchoge, revered as one of the greatest marathoners of all time, fell behind early and did not finish the race.
As the day concludes, marathon enthusiasts will look forward to the Marathon Pour Tous, where amateur runners will have the opportunity to tackle the same course as their Olympic heroes.
