by RBR Admin
Eliud Kipchoge, photo by NN Running team
In 2003, with less than 200 meters to go, a young Kenyan was battling for the 5000m title with Hicham El Guerrouj and Kenenisa Bekele in Paris. Few knew who he was, heck, the TV announcers discounted him when the final sprint began! That young Kenyan, all of 18, was Eliud Kipchoge.
Eliud did not win his first marathon. In fact, in his career, he has lost two.
The man has won two Olympic marathons, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. He also won a bronze in 2004 Athens at 5000m, and a silver in 2008 in Beijing at 5000m! And, Eliud won gold in 2003 Worlds and silver in the 2007 Worlds at 5,000 meters.
He has won World Marathon Majors in London, Berlin, Chicago plus he won the Enschede Marathon in 2021.
How good is Eliud Kipchoge? I think that he is the man, the GOAT as some might call it.
And now, he will try the Tokyo Marathon on 6 March 2022.
We look forward to watching that one!
Eliud Kipchoge returns to Japan to make Tokyo Marathon debut
Eliud Kipchoge, photo courtesy of NN Running team
We are delighted to announce that Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge is set to make his competitive return at the 2022 Tokyo Marathon on March 6.
In August, Eliud successfully defended his Olympic marathon crown on the streets of Sapporo at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Now the Kenyan distance running icon has targeted a return to Japan, where he makes his Tokyo Marathon debut.
Eliud Kipchoge, photo courtesy of NN Running team
Eliud, the world record-holder and the first man in history to run a sub-two-hour marathon – achieving the feat at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge – has spoken of his desire to compete and win all six Abbott World Marathon Majors, regarded as the world’s top six marathon races.
A record-breaking four-time winner of the London Marathon, a three-time Berlin Marathon champion, and the 2014 Chicago Marathon victor – Eliud will be pursuing victory at a fourth Marathon Major in Tokyo.
Eliud Kipchoge, photo courtesy of NN Running team
Eliud is excited to run in Tokyo: “I would like to thank the organizers of the Tokyo Marathon to make it possible for me and my colleague athletes to race in Tokyo. My focus has been on Tokyo from the beginning of my training cycle, and I can say I am ready to race there. I am very excited to run in a country where running is a crucial part of the sports culture and looking forward to experiencing the Japanese excitement for running a marathon in particular.”
Last year he not only completed back-to-back Olympic marathon victories but he also triumphed in the NN Mission Marathon in Enschede.
Eliud Kipchoge, photo courtesy of NN Running team
Eliud Kipchoge is seen as the greatest marathon runner in history. A two-time Olympic 5000m medallist – since moving up to the 42.2km distance, Eliud has won a remarkable 13 of his 15 career marathons.
Eliud will be joined by his teammates, Jonathan Korir, Laban Korir, and Ashete Bekere. Philemon Kacheran and Noah Kipkemboi will join as pacemakers.
