She may not be leaving Paris with a medal, but Bhutan’s Kinzang Lhamo did produce a performance of Olympian effort in the women’s marathon on Sunday.
Sifan Hassan took gold for the Netherlands after coming home in a new Games record of 2hr 22min 55 sec on a scorching morning in Paris, which accounted for 11 runners on the exceptionally hilly course. But almost 90 minutes after the Dutchwoman had crossed the line, Lhamo was still running and slowing to a walk at the back of the field, with a burgeoning crowd of fans on the roadside following her efforts.
The 26-year-old, Bhutan’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony and the only female on their Olympic team, had said before the Games: “My first goal is to complete the marathon.” And as the group of supporters on the streets grew, television cameras picked up the 80th-placed Lhamo as she neared the finish.
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Roused by the encouragement, Lhamo reached the home straight and ran through the finish line, coming home in 3:52:59 – her ambition secured.