Rio Olympics: Running Alone

The Kenyan Eluid Kipchoge had spent a lot of the early miles of the Olympic Marathon trying to organize the race to his liking.  Oddly he was trying to slow the race down early on, only to leave everyone behind in the last couple of miles.  The last two to hold onto his heals were Feyisa Lilesa (Ethiopia) and Galen Rupp (USA).  But it was this view, the back of Kipchoge, that everyone who started the race got to see (or a least to see if figuratively).  Naturally, Kipchote went on to claim the Gold Medal in the Men's Marathon.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember this is an original work of art, so once it has been sold, it is gone.  Don't delay buy it now!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2840759-206-226051/PaintingRunning%20Alone%20Rio206-Greig-Leach.html#.V7poTJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Running with Africa

The American, Galen Rupp was the only non African runner at the business end of the Men's Marathon.  As the group dropped runner after runner, the neophyte found himself in the company of a very elite group that was down to the two Ethiopians, Berhanu and Lilesa and the Kenyan, Eluid Kipchoge.  The quartet was roughly twenty miles in, now the real racing can begin.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember this is an original work of art, so once it has been sold, it is gone.  Don't delay buy it now!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2840746-205-226051/PaintingRunning%20with%20Africa%20Rio205-Greig-Leach.html#.V7phhpgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Calm Down

I seem to remember that in my youth the Men's Marathon's finish signified the start of the closing ceremonies.  That could just be a hazy memory of youth, but it is one of the very last events of the Summer Olympics.  With the pace a little slower than was expected for the early kilometers, the pack was still rather large ten kilometers in.  On the front of the crowd, Eluid Kipchoge (Kenya) seemed to be gesturing for L.Berhanu (Ethiopia) and Galen Rupp (USA) to slow it down. Given the Kenyans prowess in this event, one would think he would want the pace to be as high as possible.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember this is an original work of art, so once it has been sold, it is gone.  Don't delay buy it now!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2840742-204-226051/PaintingCalm%20Down%20Rio204-Greig-Leach.html#.V7pcJpgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Mutual Respect

While Evan Jager (USA) was a bit of a surprise taking the Silver in the Men's Steeplechase, everyone expected the Kenyan Conseslus Kirpoto to take Gold.  He did not disappoint, although his celebrations down the home stretch almost allowed the sprinting Jager to catch him at the line.  The pair embraced in congratulations (and mutual respect) after completing their grueling event.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember this is an original work of art, so once it has been sold, it is gone.  Don't delay buy it now!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2838889-151-226051/PaintingMutual%20Respect%20Rio151-Greig-Leach.html#.V7WrypgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Breaking the Tape

After just over twenty-six miles of effort it was Jemima Sumgong (Kenya) who broke the tape for victory in the Women's Olympic Marathon.  She had pulled away from Eunice Kerwa (Bahrain) with just over a kilometer left to race.  She feared teh Bahraini's sprint, having fallen to it in the past.  Off in the distance you can just see Mare Dibaba (Ethiopia) who came in third.  It was Shalane Flanagan who was the highest place American in the race finishing sixth.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember this is an original work of art, so once it has been sold, it is gone.  Don't delay buy it now!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2837201-111-226051/PaintingBreaking%20the%20Tape%20Rio111-Greig-Leach.html#.V7D-vZgrLIU

Rio Olympics: On the Front

Nile miles after the previous painting the crowds of runners had thin down to a rather select group.  The American Deseree Linden while trying to run an even pace found herself on the front of the group of the elite women of the sport.  Her teammate, Shalane Flanagan was one of those running along with her.  Others in this group included three Ethiopians, T. Tufa, T. Tsegave and M. Dibaba along with fellow Africans from Kenya, Jeminma Sumgong and V. Jepkesho.  Like cycling, the Marathon is a sport without tickets were fans can line the roads and watch the race for free.  Today's race had three laps after the start and before the approach to the finish.  The access did present a bit of a problem do to protesters at the end of the race, fortunately they did not cause any problems.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember this is an original work of art, so once it has been sold, it is gone.  Don't delay buy it now!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2837195-109-226051/PaintingOn%20the%20Front%20Rio109-Greig-Leach.html#.V7D6QZgrLIU

Rio Olympics: The Leader of the Pack

Obviously, the 15,000 meter race is a long one, so the front of the pack is not necessarily the place to be.  Although just like road cycling, it is better to be near the front to avoid the touch of wheels (or legs and feet in this case).  The was a collective intake of breath went the odds on favorite and defending Gold Medalist, Mo Farah (Great Britain), hit the deck after getting his feet tangled with another runner.  He was able to jump right back up and continue with the race.  More on how he finished later.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2836909-104-226051/PaintingThe%20Leader%20of%20the%20Pack%20Rio104-Greig-Leach.html#.V7CP7JgrLIU