Elite and amateur runners were forced to trudge through flood waters during the Venice marathon this weekend. The high tide along the final stretch of the race meant participants had to jog through ankle-deep water to complete the course.



Around 13,000 people are said to have taken part in the race, experiencing what organisers called their 'worst ever conditions'. A day later, officials announced that more than 75% of the city had been flooded by waters rising to 149 centimetres.

Ethiopia's Mekuant Gebre won the men's event in two hours and nine minutes, while Kenya's Angela Tanui claimed victory in the women's race with a time of two hours 26 minutes and 30 seconds. After the race Gebre said: 'The final stretch was really tough, but I knew I had a good lead and it was trouble for everyone.'