Galen Rupp is still alive and kicking. At 40, the American has returned to running a top-tier marathon in Chicago, crossing the finish line in 2:06:54 to finish eleventh and set a new American M40 record.
That is no ordinary result for an athlete who was one of the world’s leading figures in distance running over the past decade. At the London 2012 Olympic Games, Rupp captured the silver medal in the 10,000 meters, finishing just behind his training partner Mo Farah, and the bronze in the Rio 2016 marathon.
His performance in Chicago confirms that he still has a lot to offer. In fact, this 2:06:54 is the fourth-best marathon of his career (his personal best is 2:06:07), an extraordinary mark for an athlete who has already turned 40 and who is once again leaving his mark on one of the major events on the international calendar.