"I couldn’t lose gold": Sumgong

The two South Africans who lined up at the start of the women’s marathon at the Rio Games on Sunday were never expected to challenge for a medal, but at least they finished.

Lebo Phalula, in only the third 42km of her career, was 63rd in 2hr 41min 46sec and Christine Kalmer, a fulltime civil engineer who competes on the side, was 96th in 2:48.24.

Irvette van Zyl, listed as a “did not start”, was forced to withdraw because of a foot injury.

If the results sound poor, consider that only five of the top 100 in the marathon recorded personal bests — a far lower proportion than the 18 of 35 finishers in the women’s 10,000m on Friday night.

Jemima Sumgong became Kenya’s first gold medallist in this event, winning in 2:24.04, ahead of Kenya-born Eunice Kirwa of Bahrain and Ethiopia’s world champion Mare Dibaba.

“It was very hot, but everybody had to get through the heat,” said Sumgong, who serves in the Kenyan air force.

“I had to control my body and listen to my body very carefully.

“I had prepared that I would move out at kilometre 35 and my body was responding very well.

“At 35km I noticed that my other two teammates had dropped off and that gave me the motivation to carry on.

“At 40km I saw there were three of us but I knew whatever happened I couldn’t lose the gold.”

On the golf course South Africa-born Justin Rose won the gold medal, but it counted for Britain. He birdied the final 18th to finish on 16-under-par 268, two strokes ahead of Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and three in front of American Matt Kuchar.

SA’s two golfers were well out of the medals, Jaco van Zyl ended tied 43rd on two over 286 and Brandon Stone tied 55th on 293.

The women’s stroke play begins on Wednesday.