It’s a packed Olympics schedule on day 15 of the Paris 2024 Games with Team GB keen to add to their medal collection on the penultimate day of competition.
Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola won gold in the men’s marathon as he attacked a brutal Paris course that left all-time great Eliud Kipchoge struggling at the back of the field.
Tola attacked on the hills and increased his lead over the final quarter of the race to win gold for Ethiopia with a stunning Olympic record of 2:06:26 ahead of Belgium’s Bashir Abdi, bronze for Kenya’s Benson Kipruto. Great Britain’s Emile Cairess battled to an impressive fourth place.
Erin McNeice will hope to emulate Toby Roberts in the women’s boulder and lead final, with Noah Williams and Kyel Kothari contending for more diving medals in the men’s 10m platform. At the velodrome, Ethan Hayter and Oliver Wood bid for madison gold, while Emma Finucane aims to reach the women’s sprint final.
Later on the track, Laura Muir and Georgia Bell headline the athletics for Team GB as they go in search of medals in the women’s 1500m while Max Burgin targets glory in the men’s 800m. There are also two huge gold medal matches to look out for: first as the USA face Brazil in the women’s football final before the USA take hosts on France in the men’s basketball final.
Today at the Olympics: Saturday’s schedule and highlights including Laura Muir and Max Burgin
The penultimate day of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games promises to be a jam-packed ride of blockbuster entertainment with 39 gold medals to be won starting with the men’s marathon at 7am.
Meanwhile, Team GB target medals in the final round of women’s golf, the 10m platform diving and on the athletics track with Max Burgin targeting 800m gold and Laura Muir and Georgia Bell eyeing up 1500m medals.
Jamie Braidwood10 August 2024 05:00
Olympics 2024: Tamirat Tola wins men’s marathon!
GOLD for Tamirat Tola and Ethiopia in the Olympic men’s marathon!
What a finish from Tola! He holds up his arms as he cruises to the line at Invalides, taking in the applause!
What a sight! It’s 2:06:25 for Tola! WHAT A RUN!
It’s silver for Belgium’s Bashir Abdi, bronze for Kenya’s Benson Kipruto.
Stunning finish from Great Britian’s Emile Cairess! A gutsy fourth place finish after catching Deresa Geleta!
Jamie Braidwood10 August 2024 09:08
Olympics 2024: Men’s marathon
One km to go! Tola has a 22-second lead! He is going to cruise to victory here!
The fight for silver and bronze is going to go down to Bashir Abdi, Benson Kipruto and Deresa Galeta.
Great Britain’s Emile Cairess is in sixth, heading for a brilliant top-10 finish in Paris.
Jamie Braidwood10 August 2024 09:04
Olympics 2024: Men’s marathon
Tola has increased his lead to 25 seconds here! Unless he blows up right at the end, the 2022 world champion is going to win gold for Ethiopia in Paris!
After Kenya’s recent dominance, Tola is looking to win Ethiopia’s first gold in the men’s marathon since the 2000 Games in Sydney.
Jamie Braidwood10 August 2024 08:59
Olympics 2024: Men’s marathon
There’s a stunning shot of Tola as he heads towards the Eiffel Tower in Paris, cruising through the streets.
Is he suffering? Is he fine? He’s got five km to go to win Olympic gold and, actually, he’s increased his lead to 20 seconds.
Jamie Braidwood10 August 2024 08:54
Olympics 2024: Men’s marathon
My word… a 14:02 five-km split for Tola from 30-35km.
It’s given him a lead heading into the final 20 minutes of the race, but will it cost him?
Geleta, Abdi and Kipruto are lurking. They can work together to catch Tola out in front.
Jamie Braidwood10 August 2024 08:50
Olympics 2024: Men’s marathon
2) Deresa Geleta – ETH +0.18
3) Bashir Abdi – BEL +0.18
4) Benson Kipruto – KEN – 0.18
5) Akira Akasaki – JPN + 0.19
2) Emile Cairess – GBR +0.22
Jamie Braidwood10 August 2024 08:48
Olympics 2024: Men’s marathon
The pack is forming behind Tola… Bashir Abdi is back up there. Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho is suddenly making moves. Deresa Galeta is still there… and how about Kenya’s Benson Kipruto?
Tola has a 17-second lead as we approach the 35km split, coming back into Paris with the Eiffel Tower looming into view.
Jamie Braidwood10 August 2024 08:45
Olympics 2024: Men’s marathon
Into the final 10km… and Cairess is suddenly struggling! He is caught by Geleta and then Felix Simbu from Tanzania.
Tola has a 14-second lead for himself, looking really strong. But he’s out of hills! Can Geleta and Simbu close the gap on the flat?
Jamie Braidwood10 August 2024 08:41
Olympics 2024: Men’s marathon
Goodness me. Eliud Kipchoge is now walking at the back of the course, it is being reported. Yet to see the Kenyan great on the TV coverage.
Tola is looking strong at the front, as he enjoys a rare flat stretch. The last climb has smashed the leading group apart, but Cairess is looking good. Geleta is making a move to join Tola at the front, though.
Jamie Braidwood10 August 2024 08:36
