RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya sloshed his way to the gold medal in the men's Olympic marathon Sunday as Rio de Janeiro began its grand goodbye to the 2016 Games in clammy conditions that did nothing to dampen Brazil's frenzied mood.
The host nation was still basking in Neymar's kiss and impossible-to-forget penalty kick that secured the gold medal in soccer for Brazil. The nation desperately needed something to celebrate after demoralizing World Cup and Copa America failures and a host of economic, political and heath woes that dominated the lead-up to South America's first Olympics.