Paris 2024 Olympics: Ethiopian athlete with Nigerian name smashes Olympic record to win marathon gold

Tamirat Tola, an Ethiopian runner with a Nigerian name has written his name in Olympic history books after an impressive finish to claim gold in the marathon. 

Tola exceptionally cruised through the steep climbs and tricky downhills of the Paris 2024 marathon course, crossing the finish line in an Olympic record time of 2:06:26.

Tola, the 2022 world champion and Rio 2016 10,000m bronze medalist, left the competition in his wake, as others struggled to keep pace with his blistering pace. 

Remarkably, Tola only entered the marathon two weeks ago, filling in for his injured teammate, Sisay Lemma.

Bashir Abdi of Belgium, the bronze medalist from Tokyo 2020 and the 2022 world championships, claimed the silver medal with a time of 2:06:47. 

Benson Kipruto of Kenya, making his Olympic debut, clinched the bronze medal with a time of 2:07:00.

Tola's performance was nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing his unparalleled endurance and technical prowess on the challenging course despite a late entrance into the competition. T

his historic victory not only solidifies his status as one of the world's elite marathon runners but also highlights the depth of talent within the Ethiopian running program.

As the Paris 2024 Olympics continue to captivate the global audience, Tola's remarkable achievement will undoubtedly not just inspire in Africa but also represent one of the continent’s highlights in what has been a difficult competition.