Overview of the Rio 2016 Olympic marathon

REVIEW OF THE OLYMPIC MARATHON

It’s been this Olympics. Particularly interesting were the athletic competitions. In running at long distances of 5,000 and 10,000 meters lovable Somali with British nationality Mohamed Farah confirmed his dominance by defending the gold in both disciplines from the previous games, but he’s also a world champion in those disciplines, no one has never been able to achieve that, not even the famous Finn Las Viren during 70s of the last century. Ethiopian woman Almaz Ayana set a new world record and won the gold medal in the 10,000 meters with a score of 29 min and 17 sec. But at twice shorter track she failed. Still, on the track of “biggest temptations” at the olympic games in both competitions categories the main favorites Kenyans finally proved their dominance, so that at least for the time being, silenced critics who claimed that they run and win only on commercial marathons. While in the men’s race a shadow of doubt still fall on their Olympic team because of three members two were dropped (Biwott and Korir).

Eliud Kipchoge has confirmed that he is the best long distance runner this season. After a landslide victory in London, when he was close to 2:03:05 world record confidently triumphed in Rio with 2:08:44. And if this is only the third Olympic best time, because Vannjiru and Kiprotich from Beijing and London have a better time, Kipchoge overrun Ethiopian Liles and beat him for more than a minute 2:09:54. In the women’s race triumphed Kenyan Sumgong with 2:24:04 in front of compatriot Kirwa who took the citizenship of Bahrain.

In particular, I followed the long distance white runners, who rightfully, in competing with Kenya and Ethiopia have hardly had a chance for a medal. However there are exceptions, I was impressed with the young Galen Rup US marathon runner who not only took a bronze in such a competition, but bravely and well run up to 35th kilometer along with Kipchoge and Liles. With 2:10:05 he improved his personal best, its a shame that he was not a few seconds better preferably below 2:10, because there is only few white runners at the Olympic games who went under that time, first the famous German Chijerpinski in Montreal in 1976, and then the first-ranked Portuguese Lopez at the Los Angeles games in 1984 as a Briton and two behind him. If this continues Rup will be worthy successor to the famous American racers of the 70s, the legendary Frank Shorter (Olympic winner in Munich in 1972 and silver from Montreal 1976), and Kenya Moore, Bill Rogers and Jeff Galloway. In fact the whole USA marathon team from games in Rio left a very good impression and took the high rankings. In women’s competition, although without a medal, all three American women (white -more less) have qualified in the top ten (If I’m not mistaken 6th,7th and 9th place) and went below 2:30, while in the men’s competition, except Rup who was third, Ward was sixth, only third naturalized Eritrean Keflezighi, the winner of last year’s Boston marathon was a little worse placed, but considering his age and the fact that he is still in Athens in 2004 ran a marathon with a good ranking and its score is good. Of course my sympathies also won the Belorussian Volga Mazuronak who is ranked fifth and indeed courageously ran, around 2:25, I am a little sorry for her having failed to fight against the black women and get a bronze like Rup, but I can see that she is a Russian school because her coach is a famous Shobukhova who after the Pole Radcliffe holds the top score in the women’s marathon.

I’m sorry a little because Brazilians failed I was expecting them in the top ten, but it looks like Dos Santos is too old for a better result, its a pity that they did not come back for the grievances Vanderlei de Lima at Athens 2004. Italians disappoint me a bit too, basicaly I’m sorry for giving up of my favorite, European champion Meuchia and what surprised me is that Pole Cabovski did not run a marathon. There is not much to celebrate this time since no runners from the Far East, members of the yellow race, was not among the top ten, two North Korean women somewhat. I remind you that the North Koreans had two champions in the men’s marathon in 1936 (then the Korean Peninsula was under Japanese occupation, so he is registered as the Japanese) and in 1992, while Japan had two gold in the women’s competition in 2000 and the 2004th

Congratulations for our Andjelko, it is important that he ran it out, he had his tactics and is not burned in the desire to prove himself. He was realistic and knew his capabilities, though I was sorry, and I believed in him, because he was near, but he did not go under 2:30, although he can (probably rain and humidity was a problem).

And lastly I am criticizing RTS for men’s race, they broadcasted the first 5 km and then with some delay finish itself. Congratulations them for the women’s race, for men race I have no objections towards commentator, but still broadcasting the match for third place in volleyball Russia-US instead of Olympic marathon, they must have received some money, if not directly by Putin, and that of some Russian magnate. Luckily my girlfriend found on the net some live-stream, so we were able to watch together from 30-th km to the end.

Greetings from an average amateur marathoner.