Eliud Kipchoge, the iconic Kenyan marathoner renowned for his record-breaking performances, is recalibrating his focus following what he termed as his “worst Olympics” experience in Paris. Kipchoge, who had set his sights on becoming the first man to win three consecutive Olympic marathon titles, faced an unforeseen hurdle at the 2024 Paris Games.
Having previously clinched the marathon gold in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, Kipchoge’s quest for an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic title encountered a significant setback. At the Paris Olympics, he was forced to withdraw from the race due to a sharp pain in his waist, which occurred at the 30km mark. At that juncture, he had clocked 1:39:38 and was positioned 71st. Despite the severe discomfort, Kipchoge played down the injury’s gravity in his post-race interviews, maintaining a composed demeanor.
The marathon gold in Paris went to Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola, who set a new Olympic record with a time of 2:06:26. He was followed by Belgian Bashir Abdi (2:06:47) and Kenya’s Benson Kipruto (2:07:00), who completed the podium. Kipchoge’s Paris performance was notably disappointing compared to his illustrious past achievements, adding to the challenges he faced earlier in the year.
Earlier, Kipchoge had encountered difficulties at the Tokyo Marathon in March, where he finished 10th with a time of 2:06:50. The race was won by Kipruto with an impressive 2:02:16, while Timothy Kiplagat (2:02:55) and Vincent Ngetich (2:04:18) also delivered stellar performances, sweeping the podium and further complicating Kipchoge’s competitive landscape.
Despite these setbacks, Kipchoge remains a beacon of resilience and perspective in the world of athletics. In his post-race reflections, he emphasized that the Olympics transcends mere medal victories. “The Olympics is not about winning medals. It’s about participation. You participate first, represent your country and continent, and then compete to win medals,” Kipchoge asserted. This mindset underscores his commitment to the sport beyond personal accolades.
Kipchoge also expressed gratitude to his fans globally, particularly in Kenya, highlighting the crucial role they have played throughout his illustrious career. “I thank all the Kenyans and my fans across the world for their support. Over 50 million Kenyans have supported me as I continue to make Kenya a running country,” he said. His career boasts significant achievements, including five Berlin Marathon titles, four London Marathon titles, the 2021 Tokyo Marathon title, and the 2014 Chicago Marathon title. Additionally, he earned a silver medal in the 5,000m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a bronze at the 2004 Athens Games in the same event.
Looking ahead, Kipchoge remains optimistic about the future of Kenyan marathoners. He is confident that the new generation of athletes will continue to uphold Kenya’s reputation as a dominant force in distance running. “The future of Kenya is bright as far as marathon is concerned. There are a lot of strong, competitive, energetic, and disciplined athletes who have so much potential,” Kipchoge remarked.
As Kipchoge navigates this phase of his career, his focus will shift towards exploring new opportunities and challenges. Despite the disappointments of 2024, his legacy as one of the greatest marathoners in history remains intact, and his impact on the sport and his country’s running culture will continue to resonate. With his unyielding spirit and dedication, Kipchoge’s future endeavors will undoubtedly be followed with great anticipation and respect by the global athletics community.
