Rupp settled for bronze in 2:10:05.
Advertisement
He clocked 2:16:24 to finish seven-and-a-half minutes behind victor Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, who claimed his first Olympic title after a previous silver and bronze.
Gopi finished in 2:15:25 seconds while Kheta Ram was one second behind.
The final event of the Rio 2016 Olympics programme started under a slight drizzle with the Kenyans opting to wear hats with bills to keep their vision clear as they battled their East African neighbours Ethiopia and Eritrea who also fielded strong teams. Kenya finished second with 13.
“I was watching Happy Gilmore the other day”, Rupp told NBC’s Lewis Johnson at the finish line, according to Yahoo. The biggest thing was just to keep pushing.
American Jared Ward finished sixth, running 2:11:30, a personal best.
For Kipchoge, this is the victory that he missed in 2008 at the Beijing Games when he finished second and also in the 2004 Athens Games where he took bronze.
The 58-year-old, who has consistently vehemently denied the allegations, saw Farah claim the 5,000m and 10,000m titles while another of his athletes, Matthew Centrowitz, secured 1500m gold on Saturday.
“I was really devastated after that 10K”, Rupp said. It was like a grieving process nearly. “So I was trying to keep one foot in front of the other and just get to the finish line”. After that, he said he’ll go full steam into the marathon.
Not soon after, Kipchoge then injected the decisive turn of speed that took Rupp on his shoulder and Desisa as Berhanu fell further back, with Korir, Kiprotich and Biwott left training on their wake. I think I need a couple more years at the marathon. Thought I could do both.
The runner dismissed concerns about being sanctioned by International Olympic Committee officials who dissuade political statements during the games. The victory came the day after the USA women’s team also won the Olympic bronze medal. Keflezighi had stomach trouble and had to stop seven times but refused to quit.
As he turned to acknowledge the cheers of US fans in the crowd, he slipped in a water puddle and fell just short of the finish line.
“It wasn’t like over excessive celebration”, Keflezighi said. “I saw the finish line, like a football touchdown I’m going to crawl in”. A refugee of war in Eritrea, Keflezighi moved with his family to the US when he was 11.
Sunday’s victory capped Kenya’s most successful Olympics, with the East African nation winning six golds and six silver medals.
The marathon trio were the last three Irish competitors to compete at the Games.
“It was a championship, and it was a bit slow so I chose to take over”, Kipchoge said. “I knew it was not about winning a medal”. Maybe I have to go to another country.
Advertisement
They prepared by leaving Rupp caps with ice tucked inside them at water stations every five kilometers. Kipchoge said he felt comfortable running the final miles alone. “Hopefully I made you guys proud”.
