Bhutan marathoner achieves her sub-four goal at Olympic Games

Four years ago, Bhutan’s Kinzang Lhamo could never have imagined that she would one day run a marathon, let alone at the Olympic Games. Yet, on Sunday, Lhamo etched her name in history, finishing the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics with a time of 3:52:59.

The marathon course was gruelling, and Lhamo crossed the finish line an hour and 30 minutes behind Olympic champion Sifan Hassan. However, for Lhamo, the race was about more than just the time or the result. “My first goal is to complete the marathon and then beat my record,” she said before the race. This was Lhamo’s first international competition and her first time in Europe.

Lhamo began running only four years ago, when she was recruited into the Royal Bhutan Army. “I never ran in school, and had to learn to run,” Lhamo revealed. “My teacher told me that I was good at it and could run a marathon.”

Her journey in running led her to the Olympics, where she qualified through the World Athletics Universality program, a system designed to ensure broader global representation by allowing athletes from countries with less-developed sports programs to participate in the Games. Lhamo’s victory at the 2024 Bhutan International Marathon earned her nomination to the universality program by her country’s Olympic committee.

The 26-year-old had the honour of serving as the flag bearer for Bhutan during the opening ceremonies and was one of three athletes representing the small South Asian country in Paris. While she may not be bringing home a medal, the title of Olympian carries immense pride and inspiration for Bhutan, as Lhamo becomes the first Bhutanese athlete to complete an Olympic marathon.

Athletics events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are taking place from Aug. 1-11. Today’s coverage is brought to you by Canadian Running and ASICS Canada. Follow us on Twitter on Instagram for all things Team Canada and up-to-date exclusive news and content.