Olympics-Athletics-Kenya marathon great Kipchoge fails to finish on tough day at the office

Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's Marathon - Paris, France - August 10, 2024. Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya bumps fists with Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia before the race. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

PARIS (Reuters) - Regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge met his match on Saturday as he failed to finish the exceptionally hilly Paris Olympics course, dashing his hopes of a historic third straight gold.

The 39-year-old Kipchoge started among the frontrunners but faded before the 20km mark, clutching his side as challengers streamed ahead of him. After the race he said back pain had overwhelmed him and made him stop.