Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola claimed gold in the men’s marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Saturday, setting an Olympic record time. The victory was particularly impressive considering the challenging course, the toughest of any Olympics or championship, according to World Athletics. Tola emerged as a frontrunner early on, building a strong lead and crossing the finish line in two hours, six minutes, and 26 seconds.
Tola’s victory was a testament to his endurance and strategic race plan. From the outset, he displayed a calculated approach, strategically navigating the hilly course, which featured a steep ascent towards Versailles. He consistently maintained his pace while other contenders faltered, extending his lead to a commanding 18 seconds by the 35km mark. As the iconic Eiffel Tower came into sight, the crowds roared their encouragement, fueling Tola’s determination. He became the first Ethiopian to win the Olympic men’s marathon in 24 years.
Tola’s triumph was made even sweeter by his unexpected path to the Olympics. He wasn’t initially on the team, but was called up after Sisay Lemma withdrew due to a hamstring injury. The 32-year-old athlete, a former cross-country specialist, had already proven his mettle by winning the New York marathon last year in a course record. He celebrated his Olympic victory with the cheers of Haile Gebrselassie, Ethiopia’s former double Olympic 10,000m champion, a runner he has cited as an inspiration for his own marathon career.
The race saw a fierce battle for the remaining podium positions. Bashir Abdi of Belgium, improving upon his bronze medal from the Tokyo Olympics, secured silver with a time of 2:06:47. Benson Kipruto of Kenya, who had posted the fastest time in the world this year, claimed bronze in 2:07:00. Kipruto dedicated his medal to Kelvin Kiptum, a fellow Kenyan runner who tragically died in a car crash earlier this year.
Eliud Kipchoge, the reigning marathon world record holder and widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, faced a setback in his bid for a third consecutive Olympic gold. While he initially led the pack, the challenging course proved to be a hurdle, particularly the initial ascent towards Versailles. This uphill section broke up the leading group and proved too demanding for the 39-year-old, who was competing in his fifth Olympics.
The Paris course, starting at the city hall, took runners along the picturesque banks of the Seine, past iconic landmarks such as the Louvre and Opera Garnier. It then headed westward towards the Palace of Versailles, returning towards the city after reaching the palace at the 25km mark. The 71 finishers, after ten dropped out, crossed the line in front of the Invalides monument, where Napoleon’s tomb is located. The course design was a symbolic tribute to the French Revolution, commemorating the march of thousands of women on Versailles to demand bread from the king.
