RIO DE JANEIRO -- Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya smiled as he crossed the finish line and later directed cheering fans from the podium. The one color of Olympic medal he lacked in his illustrious career finally is his.Kipchoge grabbed the lead in the marathon Sunday around the 21-mile mark and finished off his first Olympic victory in this event in a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 44 seconds.Ive won my Olympic gold medal, Kipchoge said. It was the Olympic gold medal thats not [around] my neck.Kipchoges golden moment came was overshadowed by the silver medalist, Feyisa Lilesa, taking his opportunity to support protests back in his native Ethiopia. He crossed his wrists at the finish line, during the gift ceremony and again during the news conference in the symbol for the anti-government protests in Ethiopia.The nation has been marred by violence in recent weeks as government security forces have killed dozens of people amid protests over the nations decision to take over lands in the Oromia region. Protesters are calling for more freedom and an end of government brutality.Having relatives in prison meant Lilesa could not stay quiet on the Olympic stage, no matter the consequences.If I go back to Ethiopia, maybe they will kill me, Lilesa said. If not kill me, they will put me in prison. I have not decided yet, but maybe I will move to another country.Ethiopia says Lilesa will not face prosecution upon his return home.Government spokesman Getachew Reda told the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate that Lilesa will be conferred a heroic welcome along with his team members.American Galen Rupp, running only his second marathon, added bronze to the silver he won in the 10,000 meters in London.Meb Keflezighi of the U.S. did some pushups at the finish line after slipping, having a little fun to celebrate his final Olympic marathon. Keflezighi overcame multiple issues -- including a slip at the finish line -- to finish 33rd. Jared Ward, the third American runner, was sixth in a personal best.It wasnt like over-excessive celebration, Keflezighi said. Theres nothing to celebrate about. Im happy to finish my fourth Olympic games here, and Im OK with it.For Kipchoge, this is the victory that he missed in 2008 at the Beijing Games when he finished second and also in the 2004 Athens Games where he took bronze.The elusive gold medal came with a field of 155 runners -- the largest ever in an Olympic marathon -- starting in the rain from the Sambodromo stadium. The wet conditions meant spectators on the course were sparse in spots and caused several runners to re-tie shoelaces.At the 9-mile mark, 58 runners were within 10 seconds of the lead. Then runners started breaking away with Kipchoge, Rupp and Lilesa turned the marathon into a three-man race. Kipchoge later took charge with a kick that allowed him to finish 70 seconds ahead of Lilesa.Rupp finished in 2:10:05 -- 11 seconds behind Lilesa -- for a bronze that is the first American medal in this event since Keflezighi won silver in 2004. This also was the 32nd medal for the U.S. in track and field at the Rio Olympics.Rupp said the marathon is a special event that he didnt really understand until this year. His first was at the Olympic trials in Los Angeles.I definitely fought it a while, Rupp said. I was still stubborn, wanted to be a track runner and thought I could do both. I was just happy I was able to close it out the way I did.Yonas Kinde finished 90th in the marathon as a member of the refugee team. He fled Ethiopia fearing for his safety and now lives in Luxembourg.Cheap Air Jordan 3 Retro Black Friday . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. Cheap Air Jordan 7 Retro Black Friday .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.airjordandealsblackfriday.com/ . LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end. Wholesale Nike Air Jordan Retro . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Cheap Air Jordan 19 Retro Black Friday . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization.Certain scenarios are meant for certain people, and the one that has developed in Londons 02 Arena at the ATP World Tour Finals seems tailor made for Stan Wawrinka.Should Wawrinka beat No. 1 Andy Murray in straight sets Friday, and Kei Nishikori defeat 0-2 Marin Cilic, the year-end championships will be denied that much-anticipated showdown between Murray and Novak Djokovic. It would also open the door for Djokovic to reclaim the top ranking.In fact if this scenario transpires, Murray will be out of the tournament before the semifinals. Among the possibilities if that happens is a rematch of the Djokovic-Wawrinka US Open final.Early in the week, after Wawrinka plodded his way through a desultory first-round loss to Nishikori, the chances of something like this being in play were remote. Not any longer, especially in light of Wawrinkas display of firepower Wednesday evening in a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) win against Cilic.I think the level was really high, Wawrinka told reporters after that match. Im happy with many things tonight -- the way I was mentally on the court, the way I was moving. I think I was moving great. I had some good defense, some long rallies. I mixed a lot with my game in general.When Stan the Man, aka Stanimal, is living in HappiStan, its time for everyone else, including Djokovic, to be afraid. Thick as a linebacker, Wawrinka is bearish in more ways than one. He tends to hibernate for significant periods, but when he comes out of his den, and the scent of a nearby meal sets his nose quivering, its time to climb the nearest tree.Wawrinka has never been No. 1, but he can play like the No. 1. It tends to happen in critical matches on the biggest stages.Im very far from being No. 1, Wawrinka said for perhaps the 2,700th time at the pretournament news conference. Referring to tennis Big Four, he added, If you look at their records, theyre playing in the final of every tournament they play, so its not something Im thinking about now.But rest assured, Wawrinka is something theyre thinking about. He not only belted Djokovic off the court in the last US Open final, he ruined the same guys day in the French Open final of 2015.Wawrinka also hammered Murray in straight sets at the Tour Finals last year. Murray leads the head-to-head by a very slender 9-7 edge, but there is so much pressure on him in London that he might have to take hits off an oxygen tank instead of a sporrts drink on changeovers when he plays Wawrinka.ddddddddddddPundits have tried to shoehorn Wawrinka into the Big Four ever since he belted his way to the 2014 Australian Open title (he beat Djokovic in the quarters and Rafael Nadal in the final), then backed it up during the ensuing months. Some have tried to expand the quartet into a Big Five including Wawrinka, but hell be the first to shun the honor. Hes humble and realistic. Hes also a creature who needs to hibernate.Besides, life is much more fun in HappiStan if Wawrinka can avoid the pressures and hassles that accompany everyday life. Wawrinka has a deft way of staying under the radar despite having, in every respect, the profile of a cargo plane.Nobody has taken Wawrinka very seriously at this tournament, and thats somewhat understandable. He won just one match in two fall Masters 1000 events. The only bright spot after that stunning upset of Djokovic in Arthur Ashe Stadium was a final in Moscow, where Wawrinka lost that to ATP #nextgen upstart Alexander Zverev.The sluggish opener against Nishikori in the O2 suggested that sometime in early October, Wawrinka decided to just mail it in. But its a mistaken assumption. This is just Wawrinkas way. He showed Wednesday that he hasnt licked and stamped the envelope just yet.Im here to try to enjoy, Wawrinka said, tacitly acknowledging that he doesnt want to fire expectations -- or put pressure on himself. Its still always a dream for me to be here. Im trying to enjoy; Im trying to do the right thing; Im trying to fight as much as I can to stay alive on the tournament.Because of his build, Wawrinka is only as good as his movement on that day. Thats a difficult factor to control. Wawrinka was moving poorly and mentally out of it Monday against perhaps the worst guy to face under those conditions, Nishikori.On Wednesday, the gum on his shoes turned into wheels. I know I can beat every player, Wawrinka said, when asked if he intends to compete for the top ranking now that applications are again being accepted. But I need to do it more often in the year if I want to think about that. But three Grand Slams in three years is something that I didnt expect. Im very happy with where I am now.Welcome to HappiStan. Beware if your name is Murray or Djokovic. ' ' '
