KENYA’S Eliud Kipchoge has won the Olympic men’s marathon with a commanding performance in Japan’s Sapporo.
The world record holder clocked 2 hours, 8 minutes, 38 seconds to win gold in Sunday’s marathon.
It was one minute 20 seconds ahead of runner-up Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, who finished just ahead of Belgium’s Bashir Abdi.
Kipchoge, 36, is now the third runner to win back-to-back gold medals in the Olympic men’s marathon, joining Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila (1960, 1964) and East Germany’s Waldemar Cierpinski (1976, 1980).
“I think I fulfilled the legacy by winning the marathon for the second time,” he said following his win.
“That’s my total happiness, my inspiration for the next generation.”
Kipchoge now has four Olympic medals overall, having also taken 5,000m silver in 2008 and bronze in 2004.
He expressed his appreciation that organisers could make the Olympics happen as the world continues to grapple with
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