El Amin Chentouf wins Morocco’s Rio marathon gold
The Moroccan distance runner secured his first Paralympic marathon title on the Copacabana course.
Morocco’s El Amin Chentouf at the Rio 2016 Paralympic marathon in Copacabana, 18 September 2016. Original Wikimedia Commons photograph; no AI editing.
Photo credit: Tânia Rêgo / Agência Brasil · CC BY 2.0
Morocco’s El Amin Chentouf won the men’s marathon T12 at Rio 2016 on 18 September, completing the race in a season-best 2:32:17. The IPC reported that the reigning world champion and world record holder had secured gold in his first appearance in a Paralympic marathon.
A decisive move on the final lap
Chentouf moved to the front during the fifth and final lap of the Copacabana course after Spain’s early leader Gustavo Nieves stopped. Spain’s Alberto Suarez Laso, the London 2012 champion, finished second in 2:33:11, with Japan’s Masahiro Okamura taking bronze in 2:33:59.
The Moroccan described racing in hot conditions and welcomed his first Paralympic title over the marathon distance. The result came on the concluding day of the Rio Para athletics programme and added another major victory to his distance-running career.