Cairess shines for Team GB as Tola takes marathon gold

“That’s nuts,” Emile Cairess remarked after finishing fourth in the men’s marathon at the Paris Olympics. He was not talking about his own performance, but instead the new champion and gold medallist Tamirat Tola and, specifically, the Ethiopian’s scorching splits. The 32-year-old stormed home on a sweltering day in Paris, clocking 2hr 6min 26 sec thanks to a staggering second half of 61min 35sec to clinch a new Olympic record.

- JACK RATHBORN

Belgium’s Bashir Abdi and Kenya’s Benson Kipruto won silver and bronze respectively. But Tola’s 21-second victory was made even more impressive given the stifling conditions and a course with some venom thanks to several punishing hills. The race was effectively over after 35km when Tola clocked a stunning 5km split of 14min 2secs, which is six seconds faster than the first heat of the men’s 5000m round one this week.

The course’s total elevation was 1,430ft, significantly more than Boston (891ft) or New York (945ft). It did for a fading Eliud Kipchoge; the two-time defending Olympic champion could be seen walking at times before eventually stepping off the course at 31km.

But Tola made it look easy, particularly given his training block is unlikely to have been so specific, not when he was not even supposed to be in this race, having received the call just two weeks ago when compatriot Sisay Lemma pulled out injured. After Cairess ran the race of his life, the new Olympic champion has set a daunting standard.