Kenya’s Sumgong wins Rio women’s marathon
JEMIMA Sumgong made the most of a kick with 6km to run to win Kenya’s fi rst ever Olympic women’s marathon gold on Sunday.
Sumgong, winner of this year’s London marathon, timed 2hr 24min 04sec for Kenya’s fi rst- ever women’s marathon gold over the 42km-long course that finished at Rio’s Sambodromo with temperatures hitting 28 degrees Celsius ( 82F).
“It was very hot but everybody had to get through the heat. I had to control my body and listen to my body very carefully,” said Sumgong.
“I had prepared that I would move out at kilometre 35 and my body was responding very well, as well as my movement.
“I am very grateful. This is the fi rst gold medal for Kenya (at Rio 2016).”
Just before the f inish, a group of protesters carrying banners climbed over barriers and ran onto the course before being intercepted by police on motorbikes. Runners were not disturbed by the protests.
Bahrain claimed only their second medal in any sport when Kenyan-born Eunice Kirwa took silver, 9sec adrift of Sumgong, while defending world champion Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia claimed bronze, at 26sec.
Sumgong admitted, however, that she knew victory was hers with 2km to run, saying it made up for her disappointing showing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“I was in Beijing but I was pretty disappointed that I wasn’t able to win a medal or make it on the podium, but I knew one time, one day, I’d be somewhere,” she said.
“I was never worried that I’d lose this. At the 40km I knew the gold was mine.
“At 35km I noticed that my other two teammates had dropped off and that gave me the motivation to carry on.
“At 40km I saw there were three of us but I knew whatever happened I couldn’t lose the gold and then I knew I was on the way to history.”
Dibaba, in her fi rst race since finishing sixth at the London Marathon, had led a lead pack of seven runners through the 35km mark in 2: 00.31.
But then with 6km to go, Kirwa surged, only Dibaba and Sumgang managing the pace. — AFP