Paris 2024: All results, as Ethiopia's Tola Tamirat takes marathon gold with Olympic record

Tola Tamirat of Ethiopia ran the race of his life to win Paris 2024 marathon gold on Saturday (10 August) with a new Olympic record of 2:06:26 as Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge failed to defend his title.

Two weeks ago, Tola entered the Olympic marathon as a substitute, filling in for injured teammate Sisay Lemma. Now, he is on top of the world.

“I was the reserve in the Ethiopian team, but when Sisay had injuries, then I had a chance to represent him. I was fully prepared and knew I could fulfill my dream. I am happy to do that today. I am very proud, very happy," the Olympic champion said. Tola is the fourth Ethiopian to win the men's marathon at the Olympic Games.

Bashir Abdi of Belgium upgraded his Tokyo 2020 bronze to Paris silver, finishing 21 seconds behind Tola with a time of 2:06:47, while Kenya's Benson Kipruto claimed the bronze (2:07:00).

Kipruto's thoughts were with his late countryman Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world record holder who tragically died in a car accident earlier this year. Kipruto dedicated his achievement to Kiptum.

The race route was as storied as the athletes themselves. It began at the historic Hôtel de Ville and passed Parisian landmarks like the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles before finishing at the iconic Invalides monument.
The course tested the runners with its challenging terrain, including a grueling climb and a steep descent. Tola positioned himself strategically, biding his time before making a decisive move to break away after 35 kilometers. As he crossed the finish line, Tola glanced back, soaking in the applause.

The day was also marked by the unexpected struggles of the legendary Kipchoge who had been aiming to make history by becoming the first man to win three Olympic marathons. Kipchoge, who is revered as one of the greatest marathoners of all time, fell behind early and ultimately did not finish the race.

More marathon excitement continues this evening as the Marathon Pour Tous will see amateur runners take the same course as their favorite Olympians.

Athletics: Men's marathon podium

Gold: Tola Tamirat, Ethiopia

Silver: Bashir Abdi, Belgium

Bronze: Benson Kipruto, Kenya

All results on Olympics.com