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As predicted, with the big uphill climbs and the late descent coupled with the heat and humidity, the 2024 Paris Olympic Marathon was going to be a game-changer. However, the conditions did not deter the athletes — clearly the top finishers were well prepared for heat and hills.

Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia took the lead midway through the race and attacked the ups. Two chase packs formed, but soon splintered and before the 32-kilometre marker, it was, for the most part, every man for himself. Tola ended up winning in a new Olympic record time of 2:06:26, seven seconds faster than Sammy Wanjiru’s record from 2008 Beijing.

Bashir Abdi clocked ran 2:06:47 for silver and Kenyan Benson Kipruto took third in 2:07:00.

Abdi of Beglium, Deresa Geleta of Ethiopia and Kipruto of Kenya sat 20 seconds back waiting for Tola to come back to them, he never did. The 32-year-old 2:03:39 marathon runner looked back often but kept the pace up, right to the finish line.

It appears Tola likes hilly courses and flat courses as he also won the 2022 Eugene World Athletics Championships race, which in comparison was flat. He finished in the time of 2:05:36 for that gold medal performance.

American Connor Mantz and Clayton Young ran very well within themselves finishing in eighth and ninth in the time of 2:08:12 and 2:08:44, respectively.

Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, the two-time defending champion retired after halfway, it appeared he was dealing with a hip issue.

The North American record holder, Cameron Levins from Canada finished in 36th position in the time of 2:11:56. Legendary Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele, who is the former 5000m and 10,000m world record holder clocked a 2:12:24 finishing time in 39th position.

Full results are available here

RESULTS

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