SAPPORO, Japan -- Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir won the Olympic Games women's marathon in Sapporo on Saturday, outduelling compatriot Brigid Kosgei in the final minutes to claim her country's second consecutive gold medal in the event.
Kosgei took silver and Molly Seidel of the United States, competing in just her third marathon after moving up from shorter distances, claimed bronze.
Kenyans Kosgei, the world record holder, and world champion Ruth Chepngetich had been favourites to win gold, but two-time world half marathon champion Jepchirchir emerged on top after breaking out of a virtual tie with Kosgei at the 40km mark.
"When I was there I said, 'Wow, I'm going to make it', so I pushed the pace because I knew I was going to win," Jepchirchir said.
"I'm so, so happy because we win as Kenya, first and second... I'm happy, for my family, happy for my country, Kenya, for supporting us."
Jepchirchir won in a time of 2 hours 27 minutes and 20 seconds -- 16 seconds ahead of Kosgei and 26 seconds in front of Seidel.
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Battling hot and humid conditions, Chepngetich dropped out around the 30km mark while Israel's Lonah Chemtai Salpeter dropped out at the 38km stage after seeming to be a strong contender for bronze.
The race was moved to Sapporo from Tokyo ahead of the Games in an effort to beat the sweltering summer heat in the Japanese capital, but a heat wave swept the area and even after rescheduling the race to begin an hour earlier at 6 a.m. temperatures had climbed from 26 Celsius (70 Fahrenheit) at the start of the race to 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) by 9 a.m.
"It was so hot, it was not easy," Jepchirchir said.
"I'm just thankful I managed [to cope] with that weather; it feels good."
Toughness is in Jepchirchir's DNA.
In February 2017, she set the half-marathon world record in the United Arab Emirates while a few weeks pregnant.
She had her daughter Natalia in October of that year, and didn't rush her return after taking some time off after having her baby.
"It was difficult, I had to lose weight [after pregnancy]," Jepchirchir said last year.
"But Natalia was a blessing from God."
Jepchirchir returned more than a year later, and was soon back on top of her game.
She won the half-marathon in Lisbon in Oct. 2019 and the marathon in Saitama, Japan, in December of that year with a personal-best time of 2 hours 23 minutes and 50 seconds. She improved her half-marathon mark in Poland on Oct. 2020
Her comeback showed her steeliness and her strong will to be great, something her manager, Gianni Demadonna, has said separates her from the rest.
"She's not only really motivated, but she has a tough mind," he said last year.