Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa won silver, and the United States’ Galen Rupp won bronze, delivering the Americans another medal in a running event before the Games close up shop.
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Ahead of the Games, Rupp chose to transition from the 5,000 meters and 10,000 to the marathon.
Rupp looked as if he was struggling, but he had a minute in hand over his nearest challenger, Eritrea’s Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, who finished fourth in 2:11.04.
Kipchoge’s victory came a week after compatriot Jemima Jelagat Sumgong won gold in the women’s marathon, marking the first time both races had been won by the same nation. Kenya finished second with 13.
“It was a championship, and it was a bit slow so I chose to take over”, Kipchoge said. “I kept telling myself, ‘Stick in it, stick in it, nobody’s tougher than you, keep pushing.’ I was able to fortunately hold on”.
Sunday was Rupp’s second event at these Games. But Shorter had to run two heats of the 10,000 before winning the marathon that helped launched America’s running boom.
The youngest American to win Olympic wrestling gold had been Henry Cejudo, who was less than three months older than Snyder is now when he finished first at the 2008 Beijing Games. Farah successfully defended his 10,000 title here.
Rupp later told reporters, “The 10K has always kind of been my baby throughout the last 10 years so it holds a special place”. I tried to do my best. It was like a grieving process nearly. “Honestly at that point I was feeling a little tight and a little heavy”.
In 2012 at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, it was the 5000 Meter Final that had a more than epic finish with Galen Rupp battling Bernard Legat to the finish line. He’s just setting off on his marathon career, which is surely full of marvellous prospects. As for this most recent race, “It wasn’t really easy”, he admitted, according to The Guardian, “but I felt comfortable”. I definitely fought it a while, just being stubborn, wanting to be a track runner.
Meb Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, said that he stopped seven times during the race and even threw up.
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 just so happened that they all went out slow as well”.
Here are results from the 2016 Olympic Marathon.
Keflezighi, a four-time Olympian, also competed in Sunday’s race for his last competitive marathon. “When the leaders go at a pace that I handle, it was stay with the leaders; if they break, it was to try and keep a rhythm and chase people down at the end”.
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France plays Denmark for the gold medal later Sunday. “It’s much more special to do it at home, it’s a magical moment”, said Bruno, who is the son of coach Bernardo. After an opening half of 1:05:55, Kipchoge ran the second half in 1:02:49. “When people give me thumbs up, give me high fives, you know you have done something that is powerful”.
