Eliud Kipchoge’s bid for a record third consecutive Olympic marathon title ended in disappointment at the Paris 2024 Olympics, as he failed to finish the race. The 39-year-old Kenyan withdrew after 30 kilometres due to an injury to his left hip, marking the first time in his illustrious career that he did not complete a marathon. This follows his 10th place finish at the Tokyo Marathon earlier this year, raising further questions about whether the former world marathon record holder is past his prime.

In Kipchoge’s absence, Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola claimed gold with an Olympic record time of 2:06:26, dethroning the Kenyan. Tola’s victory is Ethiopia’s first in the men’s marathon at these Games and broke the late Samuel Wanjiru’s 16-year-old record set in Beijing 2008 by six seconds.

Somali-born Belgian Bashir Abdi upgraded his Tokyo 2020 bronze to silver, finishing in 2:06:47, while Kenya’s Benson Kipruto, in his Olympic debut, took the bronze with a time of 2:07:00.

Tola, a late addition to the Ethiopian team following Sisay Lemma’s injury, became the fourth Ethiopian to win the Olympic marathon, joining the ranks of Abebe Bikila (1960, 1964), Mamo Wolde (1968), and Gezahegne Abera (2000).

Another notable dropout was Somali-born Dutchman Abdi Nageeye, the silver medallist in Tokyo, who exited the race after 40 kilometres. Kenya’s Alexander Munyao, the reigning London Marathon champion, finished 21st with a time of 2:10:31. Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia, making his Olympic return since 2012, finished 39th in 2:12:24, far from the anticipated duel with Kipchoge.

Among the other Eastern African runners, Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta finished fifth in 2:07:31, while Tanzania’s Alphonse Simbu, who showed promise earlier in the race, ended in 17th place with 2:10:03. Eritrea’s Amare Samsom (10th, 2:08:56) and Djibouti’s Ibrahim Hassan (14th, 2:09:31) both recorded season-best times.

Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana (7th, 2:07:58) and Sudan’s Yaseen Abdalla (33rd, 2:11:41) set new national records with personal best times.

As Kenya relinquishes the men’s marathon title, attention now turns to the women’s marathon on Sunday, where Peres Chepchirchir will aim to defend her title. Should she falter, Kenyans will look to Hellen Obiri or Sharon Lokedi to bring home the gold.