Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge crosses the finish line to win the Tokyo Olympics men's marathon final in Sapporo, Japan, August 8, 2021. /CFP
Eliud Kipchoge became the third man to win consecutive marathon golds at the Olympics on Sunday when he took home the gold on the 16th and final day of full competition at the Tokyo Games.
The Kenyan put in a commanding performance under challenging circumstances in Sapporo to cover the 42.195 kilometers in 2:08:38 and cement his place among the all-time greats of the sport.
Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands took the silver and Belgium's Bashir Abdi claimed the bronze.
Kipchoge's winning margin of one minute and 20 seconds was the biggest since Frank Shorter's win in the 1972 Munich Games. Also, Kipchoge is the current world record holder in the event with a time of 2:01:39 he set in Berlin in 2018.
The 36-year-old's victory was his 13th win in the 15 marathons he has raced since 2013.
He joins Ethiopia's Abebe Bikila (1960 and 1964) and East Germany's Waldemar Cierpinski (1976 and 1980) as the only runners to win back-to-back gold medals on the Olympic stage.
Runners take water at the refreshment point while competing in the Tokyo Olympics men's marathon final in Sapporo, Japan, August 8, 2021. /CFP
The world record holder has now won four Olympic medals overall, having also taken silver in 2008 and bronze in 2004 in the 5,000 meters.
"My real excitement in Tokyo is no longer about competing at an Olympic Games; it is about making a legacy," he told the Olympics official website before the race.
Three Chinese runners competed in the event as Yang Shaohui finished the race in 2:14:58 while Peng Jianhua (2:16:39) and Dong Guojian (2:21:35).
(With input from agencies)