The Netherlands’s Sifan Hassan took the crown, clocking in at an Olympic record 2:22:55, after a thrilling race with some of the world’s best through a brutal course in the heat. Tigst Assefa Tessema of Ethiopia finished with a 2:22:58 time to take silver, and Kenya’s Hellen Obiri took the bronze with a personal best of 2:23:10.

"It was not easy. It was so hot, but I was feeling OK. I've never pushed myself through to the finish line as I did today," Hassan said. "I was so happy in the London Marathon, but today I'm more happy, I can't believe I'm Olympic marathon champion!" she said.

Hassan, who already has two bronze medals in the Paris Games, was in 6th place for most of the race. The Ethiopian-born Dutch calculated her reserves well to sprint to a first-place finish. 

It was Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi who led the pack for most of the second half of the race, but eventually finished fourth. Lokedi wasn’t originally slated for the marathon, but stepped in to replace Olympic silver medallist Brigid Kosgei who was out with an injury.

Obiri —the only woman to win indoor, outdoor and cross-country world titles— had hoped to bow out with the elusive gold. But the two-time Olympic silver medallist saw her hopes dashed as she finished in third place this time. 

Defending champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya bid to become the first woman to win two gold medals in the Olympic marathon. However, Jepchirchir fell behind four places around the 35km marker and never quite recovered. She finished in 15th place and like Eliud Kipchoge, saw her triple-gold dream dashed.