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Hellen Obiri has narrated how she overcame two tragic falls during the Olympic marathon to win a bronze medal in the race.
Hellen Obiri overcame a few stumbles before claiming the win a bronze medal in the women’s Olympic marathon in Paris, France.
Obiri fell after covering about 2km due to the overcrowded pack. She was trying to make way and run from outside but was tripped and fell but got up and continued.
The two-time Boston Marathon champion then fell at around the 30km mark when going to take water but she picked herself up and continued with the race.
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06:17 - 12.08.2024
Hellen Obiri recounts the moment she knew Sifan Hassan would win Olympic marathon
Hellen Obiri has revealed how difficult it was to drop Sifan Hassan as they approached the finish line of the women's Olympic marathon as she disclosed the moment she knew the Dutchwoman was going to win the race.
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“My first fall down was at about 2K because we were overcrowded, so I was trying to go outside. So I fell down even though it was a bad spot,” Obiri said in a post-race press conference.
“The second one was at 30K because everybody was getting water, everyone taking their water, so that’s when I fell down. I said at both spots, ‘I need to get up, continue going.’ I said, ‘Let me push myself towards the end,’ and it was great for me,” she added.
The reigning New York City Marathon champion stuck with the leading pack until about 200m to go when the race became a duel between Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa and Dutch woman Sifan Hassan.
However, Hassan’s powerful kick saved the day as she sprinted to the finish line, clocking a stunning Olympic record time of 2:22:55. Assefa and Obiri came in second and third respectively, clocking 2:22:58 and 2:23:10.
Obiri noted that she knew Hassan would win the race as they approached the finish line because of her finishing kick. Hassan won bronze medals in the 5000m and 10,000m and had built up the speed and endurance for the marathon.
“In the end, I knew she would carry the day because of her sprint finish. She has done so well in the 5000m, 10,000m and 1500m and so she was capable of winning in a sprint finish,” she said.
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13:30 - 11.08.2024
Paris 2024 Olympics: Sifan Hassan's lethal kick saves the day as Hellen Obiri settles for bronze in women's Olympic marathon
Sifan Hassan achieved a historic feat, winning the gold medal in the women's marathon at the Paris Olympics, adding to her two bronze medals in the 5000m and 10,000m.
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