Former marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge is shifting his focus from breaking records to inspiring humanity, embracing purpose, and celebrating the spirit of running.
The Kenyan distance-running icon, who first announced himself with victory in Hamburg in 2013, has spent more than a decade at the top of the sport. Over that period, he has secured 15 marathon wins, back-to-back Olympic gold medals, and the historic feat of being the only man to run the 42.195 kilometers in under two hours. His place in history is beyond dispute.
At 40, with his competitive peak behind him, Kipchoge is intent on using his stature to encourage others to lace up their shoes and discover the joy of running. Over the weekend, he raced in Sydney, where the marathon was officially elevated into the World Marathon Majors series. He finished ninth, but the connection with the crowd mattered far more than the result.
“I trust that I have nothing to prove,” Kipchoge says as per Guardian. “I’m privileged to still be running at this age. I’m actually more in love with marathons now just to participate and inspire people. Above all, I’m running for humanity, running for hope and telling people to come out and run.”
Kipchoge’s dominance included setting the world record twice and winning Berlin five times, but his last victory came nearly two years ago. In Sydney, when he dropped from the lead pack, the cheers from the thousands lining the streets only grew louder. For him, that support carried more weight than a podium finish.
“I came here to tell Australians to please help me, I will help you to make this country a running nation. And I think we achieved that in Sydney,” he reflects.
“I’m learning that those who are running behind me are the happiest people because they feel it more. They run in a slow way. They learn in a slow way, but they cross the finish line in the happiest way.”
The Sydney race also marked a major moment in women’s running, with Dutch Olympic champion Sifan Hassan winning in a course-record 2:18:22, her fourth marathon win in just six starts. Kipchoge could not hide his admiration.
“Sifan Hassan is the leader of a new generation of athletes who can inspire many people to come in and run fast,” he says.
“She teaches people to respect the sport, bring competitiveness in the sport, bring beauty, make sure they get all the people to come and watch the sport. She’s the one.”
Kipchoge’s ninth-place time of 2:06:06 was more than two minutes behind the winner, but his enthusiasm for Sydney remained intact. “It’s a special course,” he says.
“Every world marathon course has its own beauty, its own terrain. But this is a beautiful and unique course. The beauty was about the crowd, the way people cheered on the way, at the beginning, at the finishing line, it was wonderful.”