Ethiopia's Tola storms to men's marathon gold as Kipchoge drops out

PARIS :Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola won gold in the men's marathon at the Paris Games on Saturday while Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, who had been bidding for an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic crown, failed to finish.

Belgium's Bashir Abdi took silver, improving on his bronze from Tokyo, and Kenya's Benson Kipruto claimed bronze.

Tola built a strong lead early on and crossed the finish line in two hours, six minutes and 26 seconds.

Emerging from a pack of frontrunners from the first steep ascent of an exceptionally hilly course, the former cross country specialist seemed only to strengthen on the second hill as others faded behind him.

Tola had an 18-second lead by the 35km mark, which he extended as the Eiffel Tower came into sight and crowds lining the streets roared him on. He became the first Ethiopian winner of the Olympic men's marathon in 24 years.

Tola's victory was all the more sweet given he was not initially on the team, having been called up after Sisay Lemma withdrew due to a hamstring injury. Tola, 32, won the New York marathon last year in a course record.

He crossed the finish line cheered on by Haile Gebrselassie, Ethiopia's former double Olympic 10,000m champion, whom he has cited as one of his inspirations to become a marathon runner.

Abdi and Kipruto were jostling with Ethiopia's Deresa Geleta for the next two steps on the podium but Geleta faded in the last two kilometres.

Abdi, who began his career competing in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres, finished in 2:06:47 with 33-year-old Kipruto posting a time of 2:07:00.

Kipruto had posted the fastest time in the world this year having won the Tokyo Marathon in March in a personal best of 2:02:16.

He dedicated his bronze medal to Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a car crash in