Tokyo 2021: Eliud Kipchoge remains Olympic marathon champion
Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, winner of the marathon at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games. REUTERS - FELINE LIM
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
1 min
Eliud Kipchoge retained his title of Olympic marathon champion, this August 8 in Sapporo, at the Tokyo 2021 Games. The Kenyan brings to his country a fourth gold medal during the 2021 Olympics.
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Eliud Kipchoge entered a little more in the annals of sport, this August 8, 2021 in Sapporo, in northern Japan and at a very early morning schedule.
The Kenyan won a relocated and organized marathon very early to avoid the heat and humidity of Tokyo.
The local conditions obviously did not hamper the defending champion, who drove the race alone in the lead.
The man who ran the marathon in less than two hours (1 hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds, unapproved record) this time took 2 hours, 8 minutes and 38 seconds to cover the 42.195 kilometers.
Under the applause of the few spectators who came to attend this flagship event of the Olympics, he crossed the finish line, his fist raised.
The Kenyan was followed by the Dutchman Abdi Nageeye, in silver, and the Belgian Bashir Abdi, in bronze.
Third marathoner to retain his Olympic title
36-year-old Eliud Kipchoge thus becomes the third marathoner to retain his crown at the Games, after the Ethiopian Abebe Bikila (1960, 1964) and the East German Waldemar Cierpinski (1976, 1980).
He brings in passing a 4th gold medal in Kenya during these Olympic Games, the 10th of the Kenyan delegation during Tokyo 2021.
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