Thonakal Gopi’s journey to Olympic qualification was unexpected; he initially started as a pacemaker in 2016. His remarkable endurance led him to become the first Indian male to triumph in the Asian Marathon Championship. At 37, he clocked his personal best in Valencia, making him the second fastest on India’s all-time marathon list, showcasing his evolution from a racer with no original intent to finish.From 30km pacer to Olympian: How Thonakal Gopi became one of India’s fastest runners
Thonakal Gopi’s journey to Olympic qualification was unexpected; he initially started as a pacemaker in 2016. His remarkable endurance led him to become the first Indian male to triumph in the Asian Marathon Championship. At 37, he clocked his personal best in Valencia, making him the second fastest on India’s all-time marathon list, showcasing his evolution from a racer with no original intent to finish.