Fast-twitch nation has undergone a transformation with the final act playing out Sunday at the rainy Rio Games marathon.
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America’s top distance runner on the track for the last half decade, took to the streets of Rio de Janeiro on an overcast but muggy morning and won his second Olympic medal.
The silver medallists were Cheruiyot (women’s 10,000m), Paul Tanui (10,000m), Hyvin Kiyeng (women’s 1,500m), Boniface Mucheru (men’s 400m hurdles) and Julius Yego (men’s javelin throw), while the sole bronze medallist was Margaret Nyairera in the women’s 800m.
Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa was second in 2:09:54. He did, though, and just days after finishing a disappointing fifth in the 10,000 meters in Rio (he was a silver medalist at the London Games in 2012), Rupp came through with a bronze.
Also running for the United States were Jared Ward and Meb Keflezighi.
Rupp had trouble accepting his finish in the 10,000 here because in London four years ago he took silver behind training partner Mo Farah of Great Britain. So did the US men’s basketball team.
Japan’s best finisher was Satoru Sasaki.
A large group of 103 covering 24 seconds went through 5km with the leaders at 15:31, with the race having featured the biggest ever marathon field of 155 athletes. “I don’t think I really, truly understood that until I started doing it in L.A., but it’s something special”.
Rupp was a surprise victor of the US marathon trials in February, having never raced at 26.2 miles before. “Maybe, this is my best event”, said the American. The marathon is always a grinding event, although given the rain, wind and humidity, this one was especially hard. “I look forward to seeing what I can do”.
Blackmun said Lochte’s story also harmed Brazil in how the storyline took a great deal of attention off the Rio Games themselves.
In the shadow of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, poking through the rain clouds from high above the city, first-place Kipchoge produced a virtuoso performance as he added gold to the 5,000m silver he won in Beijing in 2008 and his bronze from Athens 2004. He also is a two-time victor of the London Marathon and a victor of the Chicago Marathon.
Rupp, who was angry about his 10,000-meters performance, targeted Kipchoge in the sea of runners. “This is history. It is the best moment of my life”, said Kipchoge.
Said Rupp: “Alberto told me if you’re with Kipchoge, you’ll get a medal regardless”.
As the business end approached, the Kenyans abandoned their hats to step on the gas as Rupp got a new one as he had done at every fluid station.
As he crossed the line, Lilesa raised his crossed arms in the air, a gesture of solidarity with members of his tribe who have faced violent government reprisals to their protests against a plan to redevelop farmland. Derek Hawkins had also dropped way behind the rest of the group.
“I know there’s a couple of people in front of me who I would have wanted to be closer to”.
“Getting a bronze bailed me out”, Salazar said.
Henok Gabisa, an Ethiopian lawyer, echoed Lilesa’s thoughts about the danger in returning home.
‘I felt I had a little bit in the tank and it was comfortable, it was very comfortable. “If not kill me, they will put me in prison”.
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‘It is very risky in my country.
