Third of all time: Kipchoge defends marathon title

The 36-year-old world record holder won confidently in hot and humid conditions in 2.08.38:2.09.58:2.10.00 hours. Abdi Nageeye (NED/XNUMX) took silver and Bashir Abdi (BEL/XNUMX) took bronze.

Kipchoge is only the third runner in history to repeat an Olympic victory over the 42,195 km. The Ethiopian Abebe Bikila (1960/64) and Waldemar Cierpinski from the GDR (1976/80) had previously achieved this. “I think I fulfilled my legacy with the second win in a row. I hope this helps inspire the next generation,” Kipchoge said. With a smile to victory The top runners got off to a quick start; the top group was still 1.05.13 strong in the half marathon with a finishing time of 31:30:2.01.39. As the race progressed, this quickly became smaller, and after 2018 kilometers Kipchoge broke away from his last rivals and stormed to a superior success. Another brilliant feat after the world record (2:2019:1.59.40 hours in Berlin in XNUMX) and breaking the XNUMX-hour sound barrier in October XNUMX in Vienna in a specially organized race (XNUMX:XNUMX:XNUMX hours). “When you’re happy, it helps you relax and enjoy the race.” Kipchoge when asked why he kept smiling during the race Regarding his decisive increase in pace, Kipchoge said: “I wanted to create a gap to show the world that this is a beautiful race. I wanted to test my fitness, wanted to test how I felt. I wanted to show that we can have hope for the future." When asked why he kept smiling during the race, he said: "That smile is happiness. They say that to enjoy this world you have to be happy. When you’re happy it helps you relax and enjoy the race.” The three best marathon runners at the 2021 Olympics: Abdi Nageeye (silver), Eliud Kipchoge (gold) and Bashir Abdi (bronze). © ANSA / KIMIMASA MAYAMA

The marathon started at an air temperature of 27 degrees Celsius and 77 percent humidity. The organizers had actually hoped that the external conditions on the island of Hokkaido would be more pleasant than in the heat-stricken capital Tokyo. But the plan didn't work. However, there were also inhospitable conditions in Tokyo on Sunday with pouring rain.

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Third of all time: Kipchoge defends marathon title

Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge successfully defended his Rio title in the Sapporo Olympic marathon on Sunday.

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