Rio Olympics 2016 | Women's Marathon

Kenya's Jemima Jelagat Sumgong wins gold in women's marathon at Rio Olympics

•     Jemima Jelagat Sumgong ran in two hours, 24 minutes and four seconds

•     Sumgong became the first Kenyan women to claim the Olympic title

•     Bahrain's Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa picked up silver in a time of 2:24:13

•     Ethiopia's Mare Dibaba snatched the final podium place in 2:24:30

By Reuters Reporter

Kenyan Jemima Jelagat Sumgong won gold in the women's marathon on Sunday in two hours, 24 minutes and four seconds after an aggressive and pre-planned surge in the final kilometres, becoming the first Kenyan woman to take the title.

Bahrain's Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa claimed silver in 2:24:13 and Ethiopian Mare Dibaba snatched the bronze in 2:24:30.

Sumgong, 31, bided her time throughout the race, staying with the leading pack and not moving ahead until the end.

Kenya's Jemima Jelagat Sumgong celebrates her victory in the Women's Marathon during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Sambodromo in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. PHOTO | AFP


RIO DE JANEIRO - Daily Nation

Jemima Sumgong made the most of a kick with 6km to run to win Kenya's first ever Olympic women's marathon gold on Sunday.

Sumgong timed 2hr 24min 04sec for Kenya's first-ever women's marathon gold over the 42km course that finished at Rio's Sambodromo with temperatures hitting 28 degrees Celsius (82F). Just before the finish, a group of protesters carrying banners tried to get over barriers and onto the course.

Bahrain claimed only their second medal in any sport when Kenyan-born Eunice Kirwa took silver, 9sec adrift of Sumgong, while defending champion Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia claimed bronze, at 26sec.

In Summary

• Bahrain claimed only their second medal in any sport when Kenyan-born Eunice Kirwa took silver, 9sec adrift of Sumgong, while defending champion Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia claimed bronze, at 26sec.

 Jemima Jelagat Sumgong became the first Kenyan woman to win the Olympic title

 Sumgong celebrates winning the Olympic gold medal in Rio 

Sumgong made an aggressive surge at the end to finish in a time of 2:24:04

I had prepared that I would move out at kilometre 35 and my body was responding very well, as well as my movement,' Sumgong told reporters after crossing the line at Rio's Sambadrome, the parade ground where brightly costumed samba schools perform during the city's annual Carnival celebration.

'At the 40 kilometre I knew the gold was mine.'

'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,' Sumgong said.

 The Kenyan athlete running towards the finish line in the women's marathon on Sunday Belarusian Volha Mazuronak, 27, shook up the pack halfway through, taking the lead and briefly pulling ahead of the lead group.

The move pushed the pace, stringing out what had been a lead pack of more than two dozen runners, causing some to drop back.

It was the first in a series of attacks by the first-time Olympian, who was ultimately unable to sustain the pace and was dropped by the leaders in the closing stages before finishing fifth in 2:24:48.

 Bahrain's Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa picked up the silver medal in a time of 2:24:13

The final podium place was clinched by Ethiopia's Mare Dibaba who ran a time of 2:24:30

Runners compete in the Women's Marathon on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Sunday, August 13.

Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa of Bahrain tries to stay cool by pouring water on her head as she runs alongside Visiline Jepkesho of Kenya.