Ethiopia’s late substitute, Tola, wins marathon in Olympic record

Global Patriot Staff August 10, 2024 Local, News, Sports, World Leave a comment 127 Views

By Olawale Alabi

Paris, Aug. 10, 2024

Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia on Saturday won the men’s marathon title at the 2024 Paris Games in an Olympic record time of two hours six minutes 26 seconds.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the race was held in brutal heat and humidity over a course of hugely demanding hills.

Tola, who was called into the Ethiopian team as a late replacement, won ahead of Belgium’s Bashir Abdi who earned the silver medal in 2:06:47.

Kenya’s Benson Kipruto, fastest in the world this year after winning the Tokyo marathon in 2:02:16, marked his Olympic debut with the bronze in 2:07:00.

Kipruto’s 39-year-old compatriot Eliud Kipchoge who was seeking a third consecutive title however failed to finish the race.