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The London Marathon champion explained the two things that led to her inability to defend her Olympics marathon title in Paris.
Former Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir has blamed the weather and tough course in Paris for his inability to defend her title.
Jepchirchir went to the Olympics as one of the favourites with Kenyans having hopes that she could defend her crown but she finished a disappointing 15th with Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan winning gold as Ethiopian Tigist Assefa claimed silver ahead of Kenya’s Hellen Obiri.
The London Marathon champion has admitted the hot conditions in the French capital, added to the hilly course, made life difficult for her on the final day of the 2024 Olympics.
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06:34 - 14.08.2024
Comparing Team Kenya's performance: Paris Olympics vs delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Team Kenya's performance at the Paris Olympic Games was slightly better than the performance at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics with the LA 2028 Olympic Games promising better results.
“The marathon was not easy because of the weather and hills. I am sad that I came home empty handed but I picked vital lessons. It is now time to work on my weak areas before the next assignment,” Jepchichir told Nation.
It was a poor outing for the Olympics champion who had confessed of feeling tension and pressure before the race which perhaps might have played a part.
Kenya’s team of Jepchirchir, Obili and Sharon Lokedi were seen as a formidable force but had a tough assignment against Hassan who had already featured in the 5,000m and 10,000m prior to the marathon.
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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.
Lokedi finished fourth in her first appearance at the Olympics with Obiri saving Kenya the blushes with a bronze medal win when Jepchirchir found the going tough.
Jepchirchir will now look to make amends in her next race with Chicago marathon in October and New York in November seen as the realistic options to choose from given next month’s Berlin Marathon will come too soon.
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