Tamirat Tola wins the twilight marathon of Kipchoge and Bekele

The battlefield was prepared for its final stand next to Napoleon’s tomb at the Invalides, as if it were the acclaimed battle of Austerlitz, but neither Eliud Kipchoge neither Kenenisa Bekele They won the Paris 2024 Olympic marathon Nor do they have any kind of racing fame. Thirty-nine seats for the ethiopian (2h12’24), abandonment for Kenyan. And it is ironic that this happened in a Parisian park built by Louis XIV to provide shelter for disabled war veterans who were left homeless.

The descent of the two greatest long-distance runners in history lifted them above the clouds. Tamirat Tolawith his curvaceous physique, all bones, fibers in his legs, tendons like springs, won the beautiful Parisian park with a time of 2h06’26, a new Olympic record that surpassed the deceased Samuel Wanjiru. The 32-year-old Ethiopian, like a stylist Mamo Wolde and like a warrior Abebe Bikilawinner of New York (2023) and the 2022 World Championship, achieved the greatest success of his career after he was the best against the tough circuit offered by the French capital, with 874 meters of accumulated slope (438 positive and 436 negative) .

An athlete with a tremendous force which flattens the path it takes. “I’m so happy, I can’t say anything,” he said. Tamirat Tola just crossed the finish line. “I got this big win and I didn’t even have to run this race. I am the reserve in the Ethiopian Olympic team, but my friend and teammate Sisay Lemma “He was injured at the last minute and it was my turn to participate,” the new Olympic champion revealed. “This is the best moment of my life“, he assured very excitedly. The first Spaniard was Ibrahim Chakir, 34th, with 2h11’44, followed by Yago Rojo, 41st, with 2h12’43 and Tariku Novales, 68th, with 2h25’50.

Eliud Kipchogedouble Olympic champion of the distance, abandoned the test after passing kilometer 30, in Meudon. He searches for an unprecedented triplet and discovers the bitter side of the test that has given him so much success. When he stopped running, fans cheering in the street at that moment followed the king of marathons and he signed them. autographsit’s over pictures and they gift his bib number, his shoes and even his socks.

The strategy of Silly It is simple, holding the leading positions for the first stretch of the race, setting a steady and demanding pace, and then changing to the most difficult place, on the slopes that lead to Versailles. The Ethiopian ran with the experience of winning the marathon New York last year, the most prestigious race in the world and also one of the most demanding due to the harsh orography of its route. In the Big Apple he found that his legs responded wonderfully in the most difficult sections, such as 500 meters on a 13% incline at kilometer 28 of the Paris marathon. The gap widens until the difference is insurmountable for the chasing group. Tola crossed the Invalides finish line alone and celebrated in style the most important victory of his career.

“I’m so happy, I can’t say anything,” he said. Tamirat Tola just after crossing the finish line at the Invalides. “I got this big win and I didn’t even have to run this race. I am the reserve in the Ethiopian Olympic team, but my friend and teammate Sisay Lemma “He was injured at the last minute and it was my turn to participate,” the new Olympic champion revealed. “This is the best moment of my life,” he said happily.

“It is a difficult route, with many hills in some sections. If you are not in top shape for this route, it will be very difficult, as it was,” he highlighted. Bekelewho stated that at around kilometer 15 he felt a “pull in his hamstring tendon” which hampered his performance.

“There was nothing I could do. Even after ten kilometers I felt the tension, so I knew I couldn’t catch up with the leaders,” said the Ethiopian. 42 yearswho from the early stages of the trial lost touch with the leaders. The Bekoji native took the opportunity to congratulate his compatriot Tola on the victory. “It’s great that Ethiopia won the race. He’s very strong and I’m happy for him. People talk about me and Kipchoge but now the main characters are the younger generation. These guys are stronger than us. Now, there are many younger and stronger athletes, so it was difficult to challenge them,” he said with resignation.

On October 5, 1789, more than 6,000 women marched from Paris to Versailles to equalize their rights with the rights of men before King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette. With the French Revolution, the feminist movement was born and the marathon route in the French capital followed in the footsteps of the women who marched to Versailles to find the monarchs and bring them to Paris before its citizens. This is another gesture from the International Olympic Committee, which has been working on gender equality policy for many years and to correct all the inequalities that come from the historical legacy.

CLASSIFICATION

1. Tamirat Tola (ETH) 2h06’26

2. Bashir Abdi (BEL) 2h06’47

3. Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2h07’00

4. Emile Cairess (GBR) 2h07’29

5. Deresa Geleta (ETH) 2h07’31

6. Akira Akasaki (JPN) 2h07’32

7. Tebello Ramakongoana (LES) 2h07’58

8. Conner Mantz (USA) 2h08’12

9. Clayto Young (USA) 2h08’44

10. Samsom Amare (ERI) 2h08’56

…

34. Ibrahim Chakir (ESP) 2h11’44

39. Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 2h12’24

41. Red Yago (ESP) 2h12’43

68. Tariku Novales (ESP) 2h25’50

DNF Eliud Kipchoge (KEN)