Catch up on the biggest marathon storylines heading into the 2016 Olympic Games with a full preview of the road-running action going down in Rio de Janeiro. The women's marathon begins Sunday, August 14, and the men's race begins Sunday, August 21. 

Men's Marathon

Last three podiums:
2015 Worlds: 1. Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, 2. Yemane Tsegay, 3. Munyo Solomon Mutai
2013 Worlds: 1. Stephen Kiprotich, 2. Lelisa Desisa, 3. Tadese Tola 
2012 Olympics: 1. Stephen Kiprotich, 2. Abel Kirui, 3. Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich

Team USA with 2016 season's bests:
Galen Rupp (2:11), Meb Keflezighi (2:12), Jared Ward (2:13)

Team Kenya with season's bests:
Stanley Biwott (2:03), Eliud Kipchoge (2:03), Wesley Korir (2:14)

Team Ethiopia with season's bests:
Tesfaye Abera (2:04), Lemi Berhanu (2:04), Feyisa Lilesa (2:06)

2016 world leaders:
1. Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) -- 2:03.05
2. Stanley Biwott (Kenya) -- 2:03:51
3. Tesfaye Abera (Ethiopia) -- 2:04:24
4. Lemi Berhanu (Ethiopia) -- 2:04:33

How are America's chances?
The United States has two strong shots at podium finishes in Galen Rupp and Meb Keflezighi, who finished 1-2 at the Olympics Trials in February. In a surprising move, Rupp made his marathon debut at the Trials, and the strategy worked as the Nike Oregon Project athlete won in 2:11 despite the brutal heat in Los Angeles. Rupp is also focusing his efforts on racing the 10K on August 13, which could present a challenging, though not impossible, double for the three-time Olympian. 

FULL MEN'S 5K, 10K PREVIEW

The last American to attempt the double was Dan Browne in 2004--he finished 12th and 65th, respectively. The only person to win both events was Emil Zatopek in 1952. He also won the 5K at the same Olympic Games. There is also one full week in between each event, which provides a decent amount of recovery time. 

As John Brant pointed out in Runner's World, Coach Alberto Salazar has incorporated an improved strength-training regimen to prepare his athlete for the challenge. The 5K/10K disappointment at the World Championships last summer prompted the training change, and ultimately, Rupp's transition to the marathon. Although Rio will be Rupp's second marathon ever, it's safe to assume Salazar will have Rupp well-equipped for the double. 



The veteran of the group, Keflezighi, will also be ready to roll out in what could be his final Olympic Games. At 41 years old, Keflezighi has numerous championship honors to his name. He received his first Olympic medal in 2004 with a runner-up finish in Athens and went on to place fourth at the 2012 Olympic Games. 

Keflezighi later made history at the 2014 Boston Marathon with an epic victory one year after the finish line bombings. He finished in 2:08:37, a personal best at 39 years old. 



The years may keep piling on for Keflezighi, but his ageless strength continues to make him a formidable opponent in championship races. 

The third runner representing the United States is Jared Ward, who made his first Olympic team after finishing third at the Trials in his fourth marathon ever. Ward showed his strength in the heat in Los Angeles by finishing in 2:13:00, which is just shy of his personal best of 2:12:56 from the 2015 Los Angeles marathon. 

Ward's personal best and lack of experience on the championship stage make him a long shot for a medal, but his ability to run well in heat could make him a threat for a top 15-finish. 

Who will win or medal?
As always, the Kenyan and Ethiopian teams are poised to occupy the top spots in Rio. Eliud Kipchoge and his countryman Stanley Biwott displayed their world dominance at the London marathon in April with a 1-2 finish. Kipchoge, the 2008 and 2004 Olympic silver medalist in the 5K, ran a personal best and world lead of 2:03.05. He was followed by Biwott, who closed for second in 2:03:51. 

The Ethiopian contingent will be led by Tsefaye Abera, who clocked a then-world lead and personal best of 2:04:24 in Dubai against teammate Lemi Berhanu and Tsegaye Mekonnen. Fellow Ethiopian Feyisa Lilesa has the most international championship experience out of the three with a bronze medal from the 2011 World Championships. 

Another opponent who is proven to excel in the heat is Eritrea's Ghirmay Ghebreslassie. The 20-year-old claimed a surprise title at the balmy 2015 World Championships in Beijing last summer. This year, he clocked a 2:07 personal best at the London marathon. 

Women's Marathon

Last three podiums:
2015 Worlds: 1. Mare Dibaba, 2. Helah Kiprop, 3. Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa
2013 Worlds: 1. Edna Ngeringwony Kiplagat, 2. Valeria Straneo, 3. Kayoko Fukushi
2012 Olympics: 1. Tiki Gelana, 2. Priscah Jeptoo, 3. Tatyana Petrova Arkhipova

Team USA with 2016 season's bests:
Amy Cragg (2:28), Shalane Flanagan (2:29), Desi Linden (2:28)

Team Kenya with 2016 season's bests:
Visiline Jepkesho (2:25), Helah Kiprop (2:21), Jemima Sumgong (2:22)

Team Ethiopia:
Mare Dibaba (2:24), Tirfi Tsegaye (2:19), Tigist Tufa (2:23)

2016 world leaders:
1. Tirfi Tsegaye (2:19)
2. Amane Beriso (2:20) - not competing
3. Helah Kiprop (2:21)

How are America's chances?
The U.S. has a solid chance of getting on the podium this year with an experienced trio of Amy Cragg, Desi Linden and Shalane Flanagan. 

Cragg is in the middle of a breakthrough year. She battled intense heat to win the Olympic Trials in Los Angeles--a major redemption after finishing fourth in 2012. Prior to the Trials, Cragg hadn't raced a full 26.2 since finishing fourth at the 2014 Chicago Marathon, where she tied her personal best of 2:27:03. Since then, she made a monumental career move to train with Olympic bronze medalist Flanagan. 

Cragg officially joined the Bowerman Track Club in January, but had already been training with Flanagan for several months. The two ran their first race together at the San Antonio half marathon in December, where they finished together in third and fourth. The momentum continued at the Trials, where Cragg and Flanagan ran the majority of the race together until the last couple miles, when Flanagan began to falter from the extreme heat. Cragg crossed the line first, but remained at the finish line to catch her teammate as she fell across the finish for the third and final spot. It was one of the most memorable and touching moments of the Olympic Trials.

Flanagan has since adjusted her training and fluids regimen to account for the heat in Rio, and is ready to compete in her fourth Olympic Games. She was ninth at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and has since posted three top-10 finishes at the Boston Marathon and a personal best of 2:21:14 at the 2014 Berlin Marathon. 



Always tough Desi Linden comes to her second Olympic Games with several top-10 finishes at major marathons and a fire for redemption after dropping out in London. Since 2012, Linden has notched three top-10 finishes at the Boston Marathon, including a ninth-place finish with a fast 2:23 performance in 2014. Outside of the Olympic Trials in February, Linden's last major marathon was the 2015 Boston Marathon, where she finished a close fourth overall. 

Who will win or medal?
It's going to be a battle between Ethiopia's powerhouse squad of Tirfi Tsegaye, Tigist Tufa, Mare Dibaba, and the Kenyan team leaders Helah Kiprop and Jemima Sumgong. 

Tsegaye notched a world-leading time of 2:19 on her way to winning the Dubai Marathon in January, and followed the performance with a runner-up finish at the Boston Marathon in April. Although she finished eighth at last year's world championships, Tsegaye has been on a tear in 2016. Her teammate and fellow world marathon finalist Tufa also recorded a runner-up finish at the London marathon against Kenyan foe Jemima Sumgong, who won London in a season's best of 2:22:58. She was fourth at last year's world championships. 

The rivalry between Mare Dibaba and Helah Kiprop will continue to brew in Rio after the two competitors finished first and second, respectively, at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing. Dibaba was sixth at this year's London Marathon, and recorded a season's best of 2:24 while Kiprop rolled on the competition at the Tokyo Marathon in 2:21--a massive personal best.