Cam Levins 36th in Olympic marathon, Canadian teammate Rory Linkletter 47th on hilly course
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Cam Levins of Black Creek, B.C., made a late push on a hilly Olympic marathon course in Paris and placed 36th in the men’s race on Sunday.
The three-time Olympian covered 42.2 kilometres in two hours 11 minutes 56 seconds.
The 35-year-old Levins was 53rd at the halfway mark, moved to 43rd through 25 km and reached 35 km in 35th.
Calgary-born Rory Linkletter was 47th in his first Olympic race, stopping the clock in 2:13:09.
Tamirat Tola won the gold medal in an Olympic record 2:06:26. The Ethiopian looked back as he neared the line and had time to soak up the applause.
“I am happy today because I fulfilled my goal. I trained hard so I could win,” Tola told reporters. “In my life, this is my great achievement.”
WATCH | Tola tops men’s field and sets Olympic mark in Paris:
Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia claims the gold medal in the men’s marathon with an Olympic record time of 2:06:26.
An alternate with the Ethiopian team, the 32-year-old was thrust into action two weeks ago when Sisay Lemma withdrew due to injury.
“I was fully prepared and knew I could fulfil my dream,” Tola said. “I am happy to do that today.
“This is the Olympics and it is not easy to win. … I am very proud, very happy.”
The last non-Kenyan to win was Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich at the London Games in 2012.
Silver went to Belgium’s Bashir Abdi in a season-best 2:06:47 after he picked up bronze in Tokyo three years ago. Kenya’s Benson Kipruto (2:07 flat) was the bronze medallist on Saturday.
Kipchoge exits early with back pain
Two-time defending champion Eliud Kipchoge struggled and stepped off the course late in the race.
Kipchoge said Saturday was his “worst marathon” and noted he had back pain around the 20 km mark.
“The hills didn’t affect me at all. The pain made me stop,” said Kipchoge.
“I have never done a DNF [did not finish]. Like a boxer, I have been knocked down, I have won, come second, eighth, 10th. [Today] I did not finish. That’s life.”
Kipchoge will think about his marathon future over the next three months but is hopeful of running more races.
In April 2023, he placed sixth in the Boston Marathon for only his third loss in a major marathon to go with 12 victories.
Malindi Elmore of Kelowna, B.C., is the lone Canadian scheduled to compete in the women’s race Sunday at 2 a.m. ET.
She was ninth in the Olympic competition three years ago in Sapporo, Japan.
