4 years in the past, Bhutan’s Kinzang Lhamo might by no means have imagined that she would someday run a marathon, not to mention on the Olympic Video games. But, on Sunday, Lhamo etched her identify in historical past, ending the ladies’s marathon on the Paris Olympics with a time of three:52:59.
The marathon course was gruelling, and Lhamo crossed the end line an hour and half-hour behind Olympic champion Sifan Hassan. Nonetheless, for Lhamo, the race was about extra than simply the time or the consequence. “My first purpose is to finish the marathon after which beat my document,” she mentioned earlier than the race. This was Lhamo’s first worldwide competitors and her first time in Europe.
Lhamo started working solely 4 years in the past, when she was recruited into the Royal Bhutan Military. “I by no means ran at school, and needed to be taught to run,” Lhamo revealed. “My trainer instructed me that I used to be good at it and will run a marathon.”
Her journey in working led her to the Olympics, the place she certified by way of the World Athletics Universality program, a system designed to make sure broader international illustration by permitting athletes from international locations with less-developed sports activities applications to take part within the Video games. Lhamo’s victory on the 2024 Bhutan Worldwide Marathon earned her nomination to the universality program by her nation’s Olympic committee.
The 26-year-old had the honour of serving because the flag bearer for Bhutan in the course of the opening ceremonies and was considered one of three athletes representing the small South Asian nation in Paris. Whereas she is probably not bringing residence a medal, the title of Olympian carries immense pleasure and inspiration for Bhutan, as Lhamo turns into the primary Bhutanese athlete to finish an Olympic marathon.
Athletics occasions on the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games are happening from Aug. 1-11. Right now’s protection is dropped at you by Canadian Operating and ASICS Canada. Comply with us on Twitter on Instagram for all issues Workforce Canada and up-to-date unique information and content material.
