Thursday, July 16, 2026

Ethiopia’s late substitute Tola wins marathon in Olympic record

Tola won the race in a record time of two hours six minutes 26 seconds.

• August 10, 2024
Tamirat Tola (credit: New york times)
Tamirat Tola (credit: New york times)

Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia on Saturday won the men’s marathon title at the 2024 Paris Games in an Olympic record time of two hours six minutes 26 seconds.

The race was held in brutal heat and humidity over a course of hugely demanding hills.

Tola, who was called into the Ethiopian team as a late replacement, won ahead of Belgium’s Bashir Abdi who earned the silver medal in 2:06:47.

Kenya’s Benson Kipruto, fastest in the world this year after winning the Tokyo marathon in 2:02:16, marked his Olympic debut with the bronze in 2:07:00.

Kipruto’s 39-year-old compatriot Eliud Kipchoge who was seeking a third consecutive title however failed to finish the race.

(NAN)

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