Ethiopian runner Tamirat Tola has won the men’s marathon at the Paris Olympics, setting a new Olympic record in a tie that “might be the most brutal marathon course ever in the history” of the Games.
Tola finished in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 26 seconds, ending Kenya’s recent dominance of the event. Belgium’s Bashir Abdi claimed silver, 21 seconds behind, while Benson Kipruto of Kenya took bronze.
The race, which began at the Hôtel de Ville, was billed as one of the toughest Olympic marathon courses in history. It featured punishing hills and retraced part of the historic Women’s March route from the French Revolution.
Defending champion Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, aiming for a record third consecutive gold, dropped out after 30km. Another pre-race favourite, Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, finished 39th.
Tola, who entered the race as a substitute for injured teammate Sisay Lemma, made his decisive move at the 29km mark. He maintained his lead, finishing comfortably ahead of the field.
This victory marks Tola’s second Olympic medal, following his bronze in the 10,000 metres at the 2016 Rio Games. He has now established himself as a formidable marathoner, having also beaten Abdi at the 2022 World Championships.
For Abdi, the silver medal represents an improvement on his bronze from the Tokyo Games three years ago. The Somalia-born athlete, now 35, has cemented his place among the world’s elite marathon runners.
Britain’s Emile Cairess impressed with a fourth-place finish, clocking 2:07:29 in only his second marathon.
The women’s marathon is scheduled for Sunday, breaking from the tradition of holding both events on the final day of the Games.
The challenging course, which passed landmarks such as the Opéra Garnier and the Palace of Versailles, took its toll on many runners. However, Tola appeared comfortable throughout, solidifying his position as one of the world’s top marathoners.
This victory marks Ethiopia’s first men’s marathon gold since 2000, when Gezahegne Abera triumphed in Sydney.
