Romania's Tomescu wins women's marathon

Sunday 17th August, 04:54 PM JST

BEIJING —

Romania’s Constantina Tomescu won the women’s marathon at the Beijing Olympic Games on Sunday, finishing ahead of Catherine Ndereba of Kenya and China’s Zhou Chunxiu who took the silver and bronze, respectively. Yurika Nakamura finished 13th and Reiko Tosa retired during the race as Japan’s medal-winning streak ended in Olympic women’s marathon races. Athens Olympic champion Mizuki Noguchi had earlier pulled out of the race in Beijing because of a hamstring injury she sustained during recent training.

Japanese runners had won women’s marathon medals at the previous four Olympic Games. Yuko Arimori took silver in 1992 and bronze in 1996 before Naoko Takahashi won the gold in 2000 and Noguchi triumphed four years ago.

Kyodo

8 Comments

Pukey2 at 06:49 PM JST - 17th August

In general, I was fairly disappointed with this race, from a competitive view. Tomescu sped off from the rest half-way and never looked back (figuratively speaking). Half the race, I kept wondering when on the earth someone else was going to make a move. No wonder Tomescu stepped up a gear - it was going fairly slow, especially at the start. I just felt no-one in the chase group gave a damn about the gold medal and were quite content with the silver or bronze. Tomescu really must have been surprised.

Well, it was good to see a Chinese finally get a medal and good to see the Kenyan win a silver again. And Tomescu, at 38, really has shown that in long distance running, years and years of experience can really count. Great to see her compatriot, Simon, too. Didn't she win silver after Takahashi or something? I seem to recall her in Athens, quitting near the start, after having thrown up.

Glad to see Radcliffe decided to finish the race this time. I thought she was going to give up again. And thank god she didn't wet herself in public again. However, it was heart-wrenching seeing Tosa suddenly get herself into trouble.

Well, so much for the pollution and high temperatures everyone was predicting.
ExPrinceska at 06:57 PM JST - 17th August

Tomescu is 36.
Pukey2 at 06:59 PM JST - 17th August

She was born on 23 January 1970. You figure.
ExPrinceska at 09:33 PM JST - 17th August

yes, it does not matter 36 or 38, she won this most difficult competition. Sadly, the Japanese runners did not achieve success, I expected them to medal.

Romanian people = great athletes!
pathat at 09:41 PM JST - 17th August

"Romanian people = great athletes!"

Yes, they are talented at the hammer throw and the marathon.

Congratulations to Constantina Tomescu.
HonestDictator at 04:51 AM JST - 18th August

I was cheering her on. Heck where is your spirit of sportsmanship? Just because your country didn't make it doesn't mean you can't cheer on the person that is working hardest to win. C'mon, marathons are nasty business, and Tomescu's endurance won out even though she looked like she was gonna pass out a few times. Same with the others. Can't remember the name of the Kenyan that got second place though but as far as I was concerned they all should be proud. They fought their bodies desire to quit and made it to the end. All that finish need to be commended.
Smythe at 06:11 AM JST - 18th August

Marathons are really boring to watch especially as I have never been a runner. Still when Tomescu stepped up the pace & was so darn far ahead of the rest I kept on yelling at the TV screen about her slowing down or how far ahead she was. Poor gal did not have anyone give he any indication.

Just glad she did not break down & have some pass her. She may not know this but I was cheering her all the way along.

Also she was in grat spirts to even trot around the indoor circuit with her countries flat----she was showing no signs of fatuge---amazing.

At the gun range to-day I told everyone about this amazing woman & especially to the female shooters.
rajakumar at 01:29 AM JST - 19th August

Way to go Romania(Tomescu).