Eliud Kipchoge, the world’s top marathon runner, took a taxi to the finish line after dropping out of the race at the Paris Games.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist, competing at the age of 39, stopped to allow last-placed Ser-Od Bat-Ochir to pass him after 31 kilometres.
He handed his shoes and socks to fans lining the street as the crowd cheered and applauded before disappearing into an Olympic van, perhaps the last glimpse of a legend at the Games.
Kipchoge had been in the leading group for the first 10km and fell one minute behind the leaders at the halfway point. He was one of 10 runners who failed to finish the race.
Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola took gold in an Olympic record time of 2:06:26, while Britain’s Emile Cairess was 27 seconds off the podium in fourth place.
Eliud Kipchoge, the world’s best marathon runner, had to withdraw from the race in Paris
The two-time Olympic gold medalist was escorted to an Olympic van after 31 kilometers.
He had handed out his running shoes and socks as the crowd showed their appreciation.
Kipchoge, who held the world record from 2018 to 2023, had hoped to become the first man to win three Olympic marathons.
Between 2014 and 2019, he put together a phenomenal 10-race unbeaten streak in major marathons.
Before switching to the marathon, the veteran ran the 5,000 metres successfully, winning bronze at the 2004 Athens Games and silver at Beijing 2008.
She then won two consecutive golds in Rio and Tokyo.
“It’s hard to be at the top… You need to have a sixth sense to stay at the top,” he said. Olympic Games.com.
‘I like long runs because I run for a long time. It makes my mind work hard for more than two hours. It makes me strong. It strengthens my mind to be consistent and respect the pain.
“Everything is a challenge, and the daily schedule is a challenge. We have three important days a week and we put all our effort into them.
‘Pain is everywhere, but we say we win marathons as preparation, so the more pain you feel, the more you achieve your goals in a good way.’
Kenyan hero Kipchoge was a gold medallist at the last two Olympic Games in Rio and Tokyo.
Your browser does not support iframes.
Her coach is Patrick Sang, a former silver medallist in the 3000m steeplechase, whom she met when she was 16.
‘For 18 years, there hasn’t been a day when Eliud has asked me anything about training… he’s never asked me about the plan for the year, the plan for the week, the plan for the month, no,’ Sang said. Olympic Games.Com.