RIO DE JANEIRO — The favorite and “World’s Best Marathoner” Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya won the Olympic marathon on Sunday, with a dominating performance, running alone, and drawing away over the final four miles to win in 2 hours 8 minutes 44 seconds. Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa claimed the silver medal and American Galen Rupp took the bronze on a soggy course.
Kipchoge, 31, has now won seven of the eight marathons he has entered, including two London Marathon victories.
Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia took second in 2:09:54, while Galen Rupp of the United States won the bronze medal in 2:10:05, his personal best.
Kenya swept both marathons at the Rio Games. Jemima Sumgong won the women’s 26.2-mile race, becoming the first Kenyan woman to win a gold medal in the event. In previous Olympic appearances, in 2004 and 2008, Kipchoge competed in the 5,000 metres before shifting his focus to the longer distance. Kipchoge and Lelisa are both converted track runners.
It marked the third straight time a Kenyan had claimed a spot on the Olympic podium, following silver and bronze performances in 2012 and a 2008 gold.
“It is amazing for us,” Kipchoge, 31, said. “Kenyans will be very happy. This is history, the first time the women and the men win” in the same Olympics “and it is the best moment of my life.”
| Gold |
KenyaEliud Kipchoge |
1:47:40 |
2:02:24 |
2:08:44 |
| Silver |
EthiopiaFeyisa Lilesa |
1:47:41 |
2:03:00 |
2:09:54 |
| Bronze |
United StatesGalen Rupp |
1:47:41 |
2:03:12 |
2:10:05 |
| 4 |
EritreaGhirmay Ghebreslassie |
1:48:53 |
2:04:11 |
2:11:04 |
| 5 |
United Republic of TanzaniaAlphonce Felix Simbu |
1:48:54 |
2:04:26 |
2:11:15 |
| 6 |
United StatesJared Ward |
1:49:12 |
2:04:59 |
2:11:30 |
| 7 |
SwitzerlandTadesse Abraham |
1:48:58 |
2:04:59 |
2:11:42 |
| 8 |
UgandaMunyo Solomon Mutai |
1:48:28 |
2:04:38 |
2:11:49 |
| 9 |
BritainCallum Hawkins |
1:49:03 |
2:04:53 |
2:11:52 |
| 10 |
CanadaEric Gillis |
1:49:47 |
2:05:43 |
2:12:29 |
| 11 |
NetherlandsAbdi Nageeye |
1:49:52 |
2:06:09 |
2:13:01 |
| 12 |
DjiboutiMumin Gala |
1:49:50 |
2:06:09 |
2:13:04 |
| 13 |
EthiopiaLemi Berhanu |
1:48:28 |
2:05:10 |
2:13:29 |
| 14 |
UgandaStephen Kiprotich |
1:49:47 |
2:06:20 |
2:13:32 |
| 15 |
BrazilPaulo Roberto Paula |
1:49:51 |
2:06:31 |
2:13:56 |
| 16 |
JapanSatoru Sasaki |
1:49:53 |
2:06:49 |
2:13:57 |
| 17 |
TurkeyKaan Kigen Ozbilen |
1:48:54 |
2:06:03 |
2:14:11 |
| 18 |
EcuadorBayron Piedra |
1:50:04 |
2:07:03 |
2:14:12 |
| 19 |
NorwaySondre Nordstad Moen |
1:50:36 |
2:07:11 |
2:14:17 |
| 20 |
UkraineOleksandr Sitkovskyy |
1:51:10 |
2:07:18 |
2:14:24 |
Africa Team