Ethiopian Marathoner Tamirat Tola Wins Gold in Paris Olympics with Record Time

Tamirat Tola from Ethiopia ran an incredible race on Saturday, August 10, winning the men’s marathon gold medal at the Paris Olympics with a new Olympic record of 2:06:26. The legendary Kenyan runner, Eliud Kipchoge, couldn’t defend his title this time.

Tola wasn’t even a main runner for the Ethiopian team until just two weeks ago. After teammate Sisay Lemma got injured, he got a chance to step in. Tola was fully prepared for the challenge and made his dream come true by crossing the finish line first.

“I am proud and very happy,” Tola shared after his victory. His impressive win marks him as the fourth Ethiopian to clinch the gold in the men’s marathon at the Olympics.

In the race, Bashir Abdi from Belgium originally finished in third place but was upgraded to silver with a time of 2:06:47. Kenya’s Benson Kipruto raced to claim the bronze in 2:07:00. Kipruto dedicated his success to his late countryman, a world record holder, who passed away in a car accident earlier this year.

The marathon route in Paris was a spectacular one, passing famous landmarks like the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles. However, it was also challenging, with tough climbs and steep descents that put the runners to the test.

Tola made his move to break away from the pack after 35 kilometers, positioning himself for the win. He looked back at the cheering crowd as he crossed the finish line, fully soaking in the historic moment.

This year’s marathon was particularly tough for Kipchoge, who aimed to make history by winning his third Olympic marathon. Unfortunately, he fell behind early in the race and didn’t finish.

The day was exciting as amateur runners prepared to take on the same course later in the evening, following in the footsteps of the Olympians.