Paris Olympics 2024: Bhutanese marathon runner finishes last, receives applause
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Kinzang Lhamo, a marathon runner from Bhutan, captured the hearts of the Paris crowd during the women's marathon at the Paris Olympics 2024.
Though she finished last with a time of 3 hours, 52 minutes, and 59 seconds - nearly an hour and a half after the winner - Lhamo received the loudest cheers of the day.
The marathon was won by Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, who set a new Olympic women's marathon record with a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 55 seconds. Despite Hassan's impressive achievement, it was Lhamo's determination and perseverance that truly resonated with the audience.
Exemplifying the true 'Olympic spirit,' the crowd in Paris stood and applauded as the 26-year-old Bhutanese runner crossed the finish line.
Before the race, Lhamo had expressed her primary goal: to complete the marathon. She remained resolute in her mission, refusing to give up even as she trailed far behind the other competitors.
Lhamo was the only female athlete representing Bhutan at the Paris Olympics and had the honor of being her country's flag bearer during the opening ceremony. Despite 11 runners not finishing the race, Lhamo's determination saw her through to the end.
In the race for medals, Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa claimed the silver, finishing just three seconds behind Hassan, while Kenya's Hellen Obiri narrowly edged out compatriot Sharon Lokedi for the bronze, with a mere four seconds separating them.
Hassan's gold medal victory helped the Netherlands surpass Great Britain in the Olympics medal standings, securing 15 gold medals to Britain's 14. This performance placed the Netherlands in sixth position overall, with Great Britain finishing seventh.
