Kenyan star Kipchoge defends his title at the men's marathon tokyo, IOC: he is the epitome of sportsmanship

Source: Global Times

"Kenya's Erud Kipchoge is the epitome of sportsmanship, winning his second Olympic gold medal in a grueling men's marathon in Sapporo, Japan." This is the sigh issued by the official website of the International Olympic Committee after the men's marathon held on the 8th. In the race, world record holder and Kenyan star Kipchoge took the lead and finally ran 2 hours, 8 minutes and 38 seconds to crown the king.

At the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic Games on the evening of the 8th, IAAF President Sebastian Ko personally presented kipchoge with the award. As the men's marathon champion at the last Rio Olympics, Kipchoge defended his title in Sapporo this time. In the history of the Olympic Games, only former GDR athlete Valdemar Silpinsky and Ethiopian star Abebe Bekila have accomplished this feat. "The 36-year-old is considered the greatest marathon runner of all time." The BBC said Kipchoge suffered his first marathon defeat in seven years in London last October, but he maintained control throughout the race in Sapporo, Japan. "We're on track to normal life, and that's what the Olympics are all about." Speaking to the BBC after the game, Kipchoge said: "I am happy to defend my title and show the next generation that if you respect the sport and are well trained, you can achieve your ideals. ”

Kipchoge's Olympic medal count has now come to 4. Previously, he won a bronze medal in the 5,000m at the 2004 Athens Olympics and a silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In October 2019, Kipchoge became the first athlete to finish a marathon in two hours, but because he was not participating in an official race, his results were not recognized by the IAAF.

Chinese athletes also appeared in the men's marathon at the Tokyo Olympics. Among them, Yang Shaohui ranked 19th, which also refreshed the best position of the Chinese men's marathon in the Olympic Games. (Xu Yunfeng)