Pat Tiernan runs fastest Olympic marathon by an Aussie as Kenyan legend Eluid Kipchoge fails to finish
Pat Tiernan has run the fastest Olympic marathon by an Aussie, breaking a 40-year record held by the Robert de Castella, as another legend failed to finish for the first time in his career.
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Pat Tiernan has produced the greatest marathon run in Olympic history by an Australian on a day where Kenyan king Eliud Kipchoge sensationally failed to finish.
Queenslander Tiernan was as stunned by his history-making 2:10:34 as the world was shocked by the sight of marathon’s GOAT, Kipchoge, being broken by the punishing Parisian hills.
Eyeing a third Olympic gold, the 39-year-old failed to finish due to a hip injury — the first DNF of his glittering career — as Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola navigated a difficult course to take gold in 2:06:26.
Tola, the 2016 Rio bronze medallist, was superb, eclipsing Samuel Wanjiru’s Olympic record (2:06:32) to dethrone Kipchoge, with Belgium’s Bashir Abdi (2:06:47) claiming silver and Kenya’s Benson Kipruto (2:07:00) taking bronze.
Amid the chaos surrounding Kipchoge’s stunning blow-up, Tiernan was on the brink of tears, emphatically burying his Tokyo demons by smashing an Australian Olympic record held for 40 years by the legendary Robert de Castella.
‘Deek’ posted 2:11:09 at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, but Tiernan shaved 35 seconds off that mark to finish 24th in a fine run that erased the pain of his collapse in the 10000m final at Tokyo.
The Longreach product was the best of the Aussies, with Andy Buchanan (2:12:58) finishing 45th and Liam Adams (49th, 2:13:33) sneaking inside the top 50.
“I’m stoked,” said Tiernan, who teared up as he reflected on his fightback from Tokyo.
“Having this run after Tokyo is such a big deal and a much better reflection of what I can do on the international stage.
“I think I’ve found the right event.
“I’m still learning the event, this is my third one, but this is the event I want to do going forward.
“I executed exactly how I wanted to … I’m just f***ing thrilled.”
The huge narrative was the demise of Kipchoge, the marathon immortal who was reduced to a mere mortal.
It was evidence no man can outrun Father Time.
Not even the GOAT.
The only man on the planet to run a sub-2 marathon, Kipchoge steeled his legend on long runs in the Kenyan highlands but two brutal hills in Paris shattered his dream of an Olympic hat-trick.
Kipchoge won 16 of his first 20 marathons. Eleven of those victories were in the majors. But in his 21st marathon, this was no celebration, just Parisian pain.
It started well enough. Kipchoge was in the lead pack early, but by halfway, the great man was gone. Grabbing at his left hip, Kipchoge had slumped to 58th. By 30km, he was 71st, reduced to a comparable jog. He didn’t reach 35km.
It’s a sad ending for a titan of marathoning and even Bendigo boy Buchanan was shocked to overtake Kipchoge, who may never run again.
“I saw a Kenyan vest up ahead, then I noticed it was Kipchoge and I passed him,” Buchanan said.
“I’m speechless. I was really happy with how I ran … I just don’t know how it can get any better than this.”
KIPCHOGE RECORDS FIRST DNF
The marathon can break anyone - even the seemingly unbreakable Eluid Kipchoge.
If anyone was capable of winning a hat-trick of Olympic gold in the brutal 42.195km distance, it was the greatest marathoner the world has ever seen.
But no-one scripted this Parisian disaster.
The sight of Kipchoge, tough as tungsten, suddenly capitulating, holding his hip in pain, 58th at the halfway mark.
By 30km, he was 71st.
By 35km, the GOAT was gone.
Shattered by the first DNF of his decorated career, Kipchoge - nicknamed ‘The Philosopher’ - adopted a philosophical approach as he slowed to a walk, a mass of adoring fans ensuring the Kenyan king would never walk alone.
“Today was a tough day at the office,” Kipchoge said.
“You can train for a very long time but one day, it can happen.
“It’s like boxing. You can go to a training camp for five months and be knocked out in two seconds.
“But life will continue.”
The only man in history to run a sub-2 marathon, Kipchoge was expected to run into immortality in Paris by claiming a record third gold medal.
Instead, the 39-year-old arrived to face reporters half-naked.
Shirt, shoes, race number … all gone. Kipchoge’s parting gift to his legion of marathon fans.
“I walked for 2km and had more than 300 people on either side of me walking with me,” he said.
“That’s why I don’t have my shirt, the socks, the shoes, the race number.
“This is my worst marathon. I have never done a DNF (did not finish).
“Like a boxer, I have been knocked down, I have won, I have come second, eighth, 10th, fifth – now I did not finish.
“That’s life.”
Kipchoge was adamant the punishing Parisian hills did not break him.
“I had a pain in my back at about 20km and decided not to finish and try to get out,” he said.
“The hills didn’t affect me at all. The pain made me stop.
“The other runners were telling me to push on but I was telling them, ‘No, I have pain, I can’t’.
“I could feel the love and respect from them.”
What a marathon titan he has been. In 2019, he smashed all expectations when the former track champion became the first human to go sub-2, clocking 1:59:40 in Vienna as part of the controversial Ineos challenge.
Kipchoge won 16 of his first 20 marathons. Eleven of those victories were in the majors. He has broken the world record twice.
As his 40th birthday looms, there is a sense Kipchoge has run his last race, but the legend is not ready for retirement.
“I don’t want to comment on what will happen tomorrow. I want to try to evolve - if I don’t evolve, then I do other things,” he said.
“I don’t know what my future will hold.
“I will think about it over the next three months. I still want to try to run some marathons.”
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