Two-time world record holder Eliud Kipchoge makes his New York Marathon debut today, a race that could mark the end of his illustrious competitive career.
The legendary marathoner revealed that he has a major announcement planned for Sunday afternoon.
“There are beautiful programmes that I have in place for next year, so Sunday will be that time,” said the double Olympic champion.
Now 41, Kipchoge expressed gratitude for his enduring form and passion for the sport.
“I am happy to still run at the age of 41 and compete with young people in their 20s. I’m grateful that my muscles still carry me through training and racing,” he said.
Kipchoge remains the embodiment of Kenya’s rich legacy in global athletics. Over the course of his career, he has twice shattered the marathon world record, first with a time of 2:01:39 in 2018, and again in 2:01:09 in 2022, both achieved at the Berlin Marathon.
He also made history in 2019 by becoming the first man to run the marathon distance in under two hours, clocking 1:59:40 at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria.
Though not officially ratified due to non-standard race conditions, the feat cemented his status as a sporting icon.
Kipchoge’s accolades also include two Olympic marathon gold medals — in Rio de Janeiro (2016) and Tokyo (2021) — and an impressive five Berlin Marathon titles. Despite his dominance, he humbly predicts that future athletes will one day surpass his records.
Even before today’s race begins, Kipchoge has another reason to celebrate: the New York Marathon completes his participation in all six of the World Marathon Majors, earning him the coveted Six-Star Medal — an achievement he describes as one of the proudest moments of his career.
This milestone comes just two months after his appearance at the Sydney Marathon, where he placed ninth with a time of 2:08:31.
