Eliud Kipchoge wins marathon to clinch men's and women's double in event for Kenya

By Jonathan Powell 21/08/2016 15H51

Brilliant Kenyan runs the second half of the race three minutes faster than the first, finishing in 2:08:44

Eliud Kipchoge wins marathon to clinch men's and women's double in event for Kenya — Marathon winner Kipchoge celebrates with spectators after triumphing in the rain in Rio de Janeiro (Photo: Getty Images/ Matthias Hangst)

Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya produced a fantastic push in the second half of the Rio 2016 Olympic marathon to win the gold medal in 2 hours, 8 minutes and 44 seconds.

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In rainy conditions on Sunday (21 August), no other runner was able to match the performance of the brilliant Kenyan, who stepped up a gear in the the last 15km. Kipchoge ran the second half of the course three minutes quicker than the first.

The marathon began and finished at the Sambödromo, where every year Rio de Janeiro's samba schools parade in the city's world-famous Carnival.

Kipchoge ran the second half of the course quicker than the first half (Photo: Getty Images/Matthias Hangst)

The clear favourite for this race, Kipchoge's win gives Kenya its second gold medal in the men's Olympic marathon after Samuel Wanjiru won at Beijing 2008.

His victory also means that the men's and women's marathons at Rio 2016 were both won by Kenyans, making Rio 2016 the first Games where a country has won the double. Jemima Jelagat Sumgong won the women's marathon on Sunday 14 August.

"It was a championship and it was a bit slow so I decided to take over," said a thrilled Kipchoge after the race. "This is history, the first time the women and the men win (from the same nation at the same Olympics) and it is the best moment of my life."

Kipchoge has now won seven of his eight marathons since his debut in 2013, including winning in London in April this year in the world's second-fastest time ever of 2:03:05, just outside the world record time of 2:02:57.

Asked if he was the greatest, he was modest. "I can say that this was my best marathon in history as I won the gold medal. I don't want to say I am the greatest.

"What was in my mind was happiness that I have won the Olympic gold medal. The last two Olympics I had the bronze and silver medal so this 2016 Olympics is really crucial for me."

The medallists. from left: Galen Rupp (USA), Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) and Feyisa Lilesa (Ethiopia). (Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Rooney)

Trailling behind Kipchoge, Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia won silver, while Galen Rupp took bronze for the USA.

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Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya crosses the line to win gold medal in the men's marathon in the Sambadrome Photo: (Getty Images/Buda Mendes)
Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia came in 70 seconds later to take the silver Photo: (Getty Images/Buda Mendes)
A wet spectator at the men's marathon in the Sambadrome Photo: (Getty Images/Quinn Rooney)
Galen Rupp won the bronze medal, the first medal for the USA in the marathon since Athens 2004 Photo: (Getty Images/Quinn Rooney)
Athletes starte the marathon at the Sambadrome Photo: (Getty Images/Quinn Rooney)
Mebrahtom Keflezighi of the USA finished 33rd and became the oldest marathoner to run for the USA at the Olympics, at the age of 41 Photo: (Getty Images/Buda Mendes)
The leading group of runners in the men's Marathon Photo: (Getty Images/Pool)