Olympics-Athletics-Kenya's Kipchoge cements legacy with back-to-back marathon golds

By Chris Gallagher

SAPPORO, Japan (Reuters) -Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge won the Olympic men's marathon with a commanding performance in Sapporo on Sunday, winning his second straight gold medal and cementing his place among the all-time greats of the sport.

Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands took silver and Belgium's Bashir Abdi won bronze.

Kipchoge, 36, joins Ethiopia's Abebe Bikila (1960 and 1964) and East Germany's Waldemar Cierpinski (1976 and 1980) as the only runners to win back-to-back gold medals on the Olympic stage.

The world record holder has now won four Olympic medals overall, having also taken 5,000m silver in 2008 and bronze in 2004.

"I was really happy, I can't describe it," Kipchoge said of his feelings as he crossed the finish line holding up two fingers to signify his two golds.

"I think I fulfilled the legacy by winning the marathon for the second time. That's my total happiness, my inspiration for the next generation."

Kipchoge also expressed his appreciation that organisers could make the Olympics happen as the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It means a lot to me, especially at this hard time. Last year was postponed, and now it has happened," he said.

Kipchoge showed why he was the man to beat going into Sunday's race when he took full control as he pushed ahead of the pack after the 30km mark.

By the 35km stage he had jumped out to a lead of 27 seconds from a virtual tie 5km earlier and extended it to one minute and 17 seconds by 40km.

Kipchoge finished in two hours, eight minutes and 38 seconds, coming in one minute and 20 seconds ahead of Nageeye.

Kipchoge's triumph highlights Kenya's dominance in the Olympic marathon in recent years, with the men winning gold at three of the past four Games.

Kenya's women have won two consecutive golds, and on Saturday took the top two spots with Peres Jepchirchir taking gold and Brigid Kosgei claiming silver.

Temperatures during Sunday's race, around 27 degrees Celsius, were not as hot as in recent days during a Sapporo heat-wave, but several of the major names dropped outs amid humid and windy conditions.

World champion Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia, compatriot and 2020 London Marathon winner Shura Kitata, 2012 Olympic gold medallist Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda and Kenya's Amos Kipruto were among 29 runners who exited the race early.

"The weather was better than the last few days but still, it's humid and it's a strange feeling, you think it's cold but at the same time you lose water very quickly and that's why I got a cramp," said bronze medal winner Abdi, who had to fight through a cramp in his right hamstring near the end of the race.

(Reporting by Chris Gallagher; Editing by Lincoln Feast/Peter Rutherford)

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Athletics - Men's Marathon - Sapporo Odori Park, Sapporo, Japan - August 8, 2021. Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya holds the flag of Kenya and celebrates after winning gold REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Athletics - Men's Marathon - Sapporo Odori Park, Sapporo, Japan - August 8, 2021. Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya crosses the finish line to win gold REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Athletics - Men's Marathon - Sapporo Odori Park, Sapporo, Japan - August 8, 2021. General view of the athletes in action with Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, Jeison Alexander Suarez of Colombia and Tadesse Abraham of Switzerland leading REUTERS/Feline Lim

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